Definition

1. Noun (Historical):
   • The system of imperial examinations: Refers specifically to the competitive civil service examination system used in feudal Vietnam (and historically in China) to select scholars and government officials.
   • A laureate of the imperial examinations: Refers to a person who achieved success and earned a degree (such as cử nhân, tiến sĩ) within this system.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong xã hội phong kiến, khoa bảng là con đường tiến thân chính của các nhà nho. (In feudal society, the imperial examination system was the main career path for Confucian scholars.)
  • Cụ tổ của dòng họ chúng tôi là một chân khoa bảng, đã từng đỗ tiến sĩ. (Our family's ancestor was an imperial examination laureate who once earned a doctoral degree.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "khoa bảng" is almost exclusively used in historical or literary contexts to discuss the pre-modern education and mandarin selection system. It evokes the scholarly tradition and social prestige associated with it.

Variants and Related Words

• Khoa giáp (n): A synonym for , referring to the examination system or its graduates.
• Khoa mục (n): Another synonym, emphasizing the list or roster of successful examination candidates.
• Chân khoa bảng (n): A fixed phrase meaning "a true laureate" or "a genuine graduate" of the imperial exams.

Synonyms

• Imperial examination system: The institutional framework for selecting officials.
• Mandarin: A government official in imperial China or Vietnam, often entering service via examinations.
• Laureate: A person who is honored for achieving high distinction, particularly in academic fields (fitting the historical context).

Related Concepts

• Thi Hương, thi Hội, thi Đình: The specific levels (provincial, metropolitan, palace) of the imperial examinations in Vietnam.
• Cử nhân, Tiến sĩ, Trạng nguyên: Academic titles/degrees conferred upon passing different levels of the exams (Bachelor's, Doctorate, First Doctorate).
• Nhà nho: A Confucian scholar, the primary social group that pursued the path.

1. (cũ) (System of) competition-examinations
   • Khoa bảng là con đường xuất thân của nhà nho
     Competition-examinations werethe road for the scholars to make their way in the world
2. Laureate in former competition-examinations
   • Là chân khoa bảng
     To be a laureate in former competition-examinations