quyết khoa
Definition
- Verb (archaic):
- To be determined to pass a specific imperial examination: This term describes a historical candidate's firm resolve to succeed in a particular session (khoa) of the imperial civil service examinations in feudal Vietnam.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Ông cụ thân sinh ra vua Tự Đức từng quyết khoa và đỗ cao. (The father of Emperor Tự Đức was once determined to pass the exam and achieved a high rank.)
- Nghe nói cụ ấy đã quyết khoa này từ năm ngoái. (It is said that he resolved to pass this specific examination session last year.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used in historical or literary contexts discussing the feudal examination system. It implies a deep personal commitment to a single, specific opportunity.
Variants and Related Words
- Đi thi (v): to take an exam.
- Thi đỗ (v): to pass an exam.
- Khoa thi (n): an examination session.
Synonyms
- Resolved to pass: determined to succeed in the exam.
- Bent on succeeding: strongly intent on achieving success in that specific exam session.
Notes on Usage
- Obsolete Term: "Quyết khoa" is an archaic verb not used in modern daily language. It is found in historical texts, stories, or scholarly writings about Vietnam's Confucian examination era.
- Specificity: The word inherently combines the meaning of "quyết" (to decide, to be determined) with "khoa" (a specific exam session), emphasizing the target is not just any exam, but a particular scheduled one.