bù jí gé: 不及格 - To Fail (a test), Unqualified, Substandard

• Keywords: bu ji ge, bujige, 不及格, fail a test in Chinese, not pass in Chinese, Chinese for failing an exam, what does bu ji ge mean, Chinese education culture, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to say “to fail a test” in Chinese with the essential term 不及格 (bù jí gé). This guide breaks down the literal meaning of “not reaching the standard,” its deep cultural significance in China's high-pressure education system, and provides practical, real-world examples. Understand not just how to say you “didn't pass,” but the cultural weight behind the concept, from school exams to being metaphorically “unqualified” in life. Perfect for students learning Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bù jí gé
• Part of Speech: Verb / Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To fail to reach a passing grade or a required standard.
• In a Nutshell: 不及格 (bù jí gé) is the most common and direct way to say you've failed an exam, a course, or any formal evaluation in Chinese. It literally translates to “not reaching the standard line.” While its home ground is the classroom, its meaning extends metaphorically to describe anything—a product, a performance, even a person's effort in a certain role—as being “substandard” or “not making the grade.” The feeling is one of objective failure against a clear benchmark.

• 不 (bù): The universal negative particle in Chinese, meaning “not” or “no.”
• 及 (jí): To reach, to arrive at, or to come up to a certain level.
• 格 (gé): A standard, a grid, or a pattern. In this context, it specifically means the “passing standard” or “passing line” (及格线 - jígéxiàn).

When you combine them, 不 (bù) + 及 (jí) + 格 (gé) creates a very logical and transparent meaning: “to not reach the standard.”

In Chinese culture, particularly surrounding education, 不及格 carries significant weight. The education system is famously rigorous, culminating in the life-altering 高考 (gāokǎo), the national college entrance exam. Success in school is often seen not just as a personal achievement, but as a duty to one's family and the primary path to a stable, successful life. Therefore, getting a 不及格 is more than just a bad grade; it can be a source of great stress and disappointment for both the student and their parents. It represents a failure to meet high expectations. Compared to Western culture, where failing a test is often framed as a “learning opportunity” or a minor setback, the concept of 不及格 in a Chinese context can feel more definitive and carry heavier social consequences. While this is changing with modern perspectives, the immense pressure to “pass” (及格 - jí gé) and excel remains a core part of the cultural landscape surrounding academic performance.

不及格 is a term every student in China knows intimately.

• In School: This is its primary domain. Students use it to talk about their results, parents use it with concern, and teachers use it on report cards.
  • `我数学考试不及格。` (Wǒ shùxué kǎoshì bù jí gé.) - “I failed my math test.”
• Metaphorical Usage (Very Common): The term is frequently used outside of school to judge the quality of something or someone's performance in a role. This usage is informal and judgmental.
  • `他这个男朋友当得太不及格了！` (Tā zhège nánpéngyǒu dāng de tài bù jí gé le!) - “As a boyfriend, he's totally failing/unqualified!”
  • `这部电影的情节完全不及格。` (Zhè bù diànyǐng de qíngjié wánquán bù jí gé.) - “The plot of this movie is completely substandard.”

The connotation is always negative, indicating a clear failure to meet a minimum requirement, whether on a test or in life.

• Example 1:
  • 我这次的化学考试不及格，我妈妈很生气。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhè cì de huàxué kǎoshì bù jí gé, wǒ māmā hěn shēngqì.
  • English: I failed this chemistry exam, and my mom is very angry.
  • Analysis: A classic, straightforward example of using 不及格 in an academic context. It clearly shows the consequence and emotion tied to failing.
• Example 2:
  • 如果你期末考试不及格，就得参加补考。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ qímò kǎoshì bù jí gé, jiù děi cānjiā bǔkǎo.
  • English: If you fail the final exam, you have to take the make-up exam.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the practical consequence of getting a 不及格. The structure `如果…就…` (rúguǒ…jiù…) means “if…then…”.
• Example 3:
  • 他很担心自己的英语会不及格。
  • Pinyin: Tā hěn dānxīn zìjǐ de Yīngyǔ huì bù jí gé.
  • English: He is very worried that he will fail English.
  • Analysis: Shows how to use 不及格 to express worry or anxiety about a future possibility.
• Example 4:
  • 作为一个老板，他不及格，因为他从不关心员工。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yīgè lǎobǎn, tā bù jí gé, yīnwèi tā cóng bù guānxīn yuángōng.
  • English: As a boss, he is unqualified because he never cares about his employees.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of the metaphorical usage. It's not about a test, but about failing to meet the basic standards of a role.
• Example 5:
  • 这次体能测试，我们班有五个人不及格。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì tǐnéng cèshì, wǒmen bān yǒu wǔ gè rén bù jí gé.
  • English: In this physical fitness test, five people in our class failed.
  • Analysis: This shows that 不及格 applies to any kind of test with a pass/fail standard, not just academic ones.
• Example 6:
  • 别灰心，一次不及格不代表什么。
  • Pinyin: Bié huīxīn, yī cì bù jí gé bù dàibiǎo shénme.
  • English: Don't be discouraged, failing once doesn't mean anything.
  • Analysis: A sentence of encouragement, treating 不及格 as a noun phrase (“a failure”). `别灰心 (bié huīxīn)` is a great phrase for “don't lose heart.”
• Example 7:
  • 听说有好几门课不及格就不能毕业。
  • Pinyin: Tīngshuō yǒu hǎojǐ mén kè bù jí gé jiù bùnéng bìyè.
  • English: I heard that if you fail several courses, you can't graduate.
  • Analysis: This highlights the high stakes associated with 不及格. `门 (mén)` is the measure word for academic courses.
• Example 8:
  • 这份报告写得太差了，完全不及格！
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn bàogào xiě de tài chà le, wánquán bù jí gé!
  • English: This report is written so poorly, it's completely substandard!
  • Analysis: Shows 不及格 used to critique the quality of work. `完全 (wánquán)` means “completely,” adding emphasis.
• Example 9:
  • 我宁可得一个刚及格的分数，也不想不及格。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ nìngkě dé yīgè gāng jí gé de fēnshù, yě bùxiǎng bù jí gé.
  • English: I would rather get a barely passing score than fail.
  • Analysis: This sentence cleverly contrasts the antonym `及格 (jí gé)` with 不及格, showing the student's desperation to just meet the minimum standard. `宁可…也不… (nìngkě…yě bù…)` is a useful structure for “would rather… than…”.
• Example 10:
  • 你的驾驶技术不及格，需要多练习。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de jiàshǐ jìshù bù jí gé, xūyào duō liànxí.
  • English: Your driving skills are substandard; you need more practice.
  • Analysis: Another practical, non-academic use. It's a direct critique of a skill, indicating it doesn't meet the necessary level for safety or competence.

• 不及格 (bù jí gé) vs. 失败 (shībài): This is the most important distinction.
  • 不及格 is for failing to meet a specific, measurable standard (a score, a requirement). It's objective. You fail a test (不及格), not a war.
  • 失败 (shībài) means “failure” or “to be defeated” in a much broader, more serious sense. A business can fail (失败), a plan can fail (失败), a military campaign can fail (失败).
  • Common Mistake: Saying `我的考试失败了 (Wǒ de kǎoshì shībài le)`. While grammatically possible, it sounds overly dramatic, as if the exam was a life-or-death battle. The correct and natural phrase is `我的考试不及格了 (Wǒ de kǎoshì bù jí gé le)`.
• Not a Direct Translation for “Unqualified”: While the metaphorical usage sounds like “unqualified,” be careful. For professional contexts, like a job application, you would use a more formal term like `不符合资格 (bù fúhé zīgé)` (doesn't meet the qualifications). Using 不及格 to describe a person's professional ability is informal and sounds more like a personal judgment than a formal assessment.

• 及格 (jí gé) - To pass (an exam). The direct antonym of 不及格.
• 通过 (tōngguò) - To pass, to get through. A very common synonym for 及格, often used for passing tests, checks, or auditions.
• 考试 (kǎoshì) - Exam, test. The event at which one either passes (及格) or fails (不及格).
• 成绩 (chéngjì) - Grades, results, scores. The `成绩` determines if you 不及格.
• 补考 (bǔkǎo) - A make-up exam. The second chance you get after you 不及格.
• 满分 (mǎnfēn) - A perfect score, full marks. The ideal outcome and the opposite of 不及格.
• 失败 (shībài) - Failure, defeat. A much broader and more serious concept of failure, not to be confused with 不及格.
• 高考 (gāokǎo) - The National College Entrance Examination. The most high-stakes exam in China, where 不及格 is not an option for most subjects if one wants to get into a good university.