khoa giáp
Definition
Noun: - First-place laureate (in the old imperial examinations): In historical Vietnam, this term specifically refers to the scholar who achieved the highest rank (Trạng nguyên) in the imperial examinations (thi Đình). - The scholarly path; the mandarin class (by extension): More broadly, it can refer to the class of scholars who passed the imperial exams and entered government service.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông ấy đỗ khoa giáp, được vua ban nhiều ân huệ. (He passed as the first laureate and was granted many favors by the king.)
- Con đường khoa giáp là ước mơ của nhiều nho sinh xưa. (The path of the scholarly exams was the dream of many Confucian scholars in the past.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is archaic and is primarily used in historical or literary contexts discussing Vietnam's feudal examination system and mandarin society.
- It often carries connotations of supreme scholarly achievement, honor, and high social status within the old system.
Variants and Related Words
- Khoa bảng (n): The general system of imperial examinations and the scholarly degrees obtained from them. is the highest level within .
- Trạng nguyên (n): The specific title for the first-place laureate, synonymous with in its primary meaning.
- Tiến sĩ (n): Doctorate, a high degree in the imperial exams, but ranked below .
Synonyms
- Trạng nguyên (n): First-place laureate, primus.
- Đỗ đầu (v/n): To come first/to be the top graduate.
Related Idioms/Phrases
- Bảng vàng bia đá: (Golden placards and stone steles) Refers to the lasting fame of those who passed the imperial exams, often including the .
- Công thành danh toại: (To achieve both merit and fame) An idiom describing the ultimate success of a scholar, which was epitomized by becoming .