Definition

1. Noun:
   • First laureate at the pre-Court Competition examination: In the old Vietnamese imperial examination system, "hội nguyên" refers to the candidate who achieved the highest score (first place) in the "Thi Hội" (Metropolitan Examination), the national-level exam held in the capital before the final "Thi Đình" (Court Examination).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông ấy từng đỗ hội nguyên dưới triều Nguyễn. (He once achieved the rank of "hội nguyên" under the Nguyễn dynasty.)
  • Danh hiệu hội nguyên là một vinh dự lớn. (The title of "first laureate at the Metropolitan Examination" was a great honor.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is historical and literary. It is used when discussing the history, culture, or literature of feudal Vietnam.
  • Trong văn học cổ, nhân vật thường là các trang khoa bảng như hội nguyên, thám hoa. (In classical literature, characters are often scholars with titles like "hội nguyên" or "thám hoa".)

Variants and Related Words

• Thi Hội (n): The Metropolitan Examination, the national exam where the "hội nguyên" was selected.
• Trạng nguyên (n): First laureate at the Court Examination, a higher rank than "hội nguyên".
• Bảng nhãn (n): Second laureate at the Court Examination.
• Thám hoa (n): Third laureate at the Court Examination.

Synonyms

• Đầu khoa thi hội: Top candidate in the Metropolitan Examination. (This is a descriptive phrase rather than a single title.)
• Người đỗ đầu thi hội: The person who came first in the Metropolitan Examination.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Vinh quy bái tổ": This phrase describes the ceremony where a successful examination candidate (which could include a "hội nguyên") returns to his hometown in glory to worship his ancestors. It is often associated with all high-ranking scholars.
  • Sau khi đỗ hội nguyên, ông được vinh quy bái tổ. (After achieving the rank of "hội nguyên", he returned to his village in a glorious ceremony to worship his ancestors.)

1. (từ cũ; nghĩa cũ) First laureate at pre-Court Copetition examination