落第 (luòdì): to fail an imperial exam

Meanings

Tā sān cì luòdì, réng wèi fàngqì.

He failed the exam three times but still didn't give up.

Luòdì de kǎoshēng zhǐ néng zài děng sān nián.

Candidates who failed had to wait another three years.

history

落第 comes from the imperial exam system (科举): 第 referred to ranking on the pass list, and 落 means to fall off — i.e. not make the list. Opposite: 及第.

register

Literary/historical. In modern usage, 落榜 (luòbǎng) is more common for failing entrance exams like the gaokao.

落 luò

第 dì