jígé: 及格 - To Pass (a test/exam), To Meet a Standard

• Keywords: 及格, jige, pass a test in Chinese, pass an exam in Chinese, what does jige mean, Chinese for passing grade, Chinese education, HSK, exam culture China, passing standard.
• Summary: Learn how to use 及格 (jígé), the essential Chinese word for 'to pass' an exam or meet a minimum standard. This guide breaks down 及格 for beginners, exploring its use in Chinese education, its cultural significance around the concept of 'just barely passing,' and provides practical example sentences. Understand the difference between simply passing and excelling, a key concept in China's competitive academic and professional environments.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jígé
• Part of Speech: Verb / Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To reach the passing mark; to pass (an exam, a test, etc.).
• In a Nutshell: 及格 (jígé) is the word you use when you've met the minimum requirement, especially for a test or evaluation. It marks the line between 'fail' and 'pass.' While it's a positive outcome (you didn't fail!), it doesn't imply excellence. Think of it as hitting the 60% mark on a test—enough to move on, but not a grade you'd necessarily brag about. It's a functional, neutral term focused purely on meeting the baseline standard.

• 及 (jí): The primary meaning here is “to reach” or “to come up to.” Picture reaching out your hand and just managing to touch an object.
• 格 (gé): This character means “standard,” “rule,” or “grid.” Think of a set of rules or a specific line (like a gridline) that defines a boundary.
• The Combination: The characters literally mean “to reach the standard.” This perfectly captures the essence of the word: you have successfully reached the predetermined minimum line for passing.

In Chinese culture, particularly within its highly competitive education system, 及格 (jígé) holds a specific and potent meaning. The passing score in most Chinese schools and universities is 60 out of 100. Therefore, to 及格 is to get at least 60 points. While passing is objectively a success, the cultural emphasis is intensely focused on achieving high scores (高分 gāofēn). Simply “passing” can be viewed as underperforming or just doing the bare minimum. This is different from some Western contexts where “a pass is a pass” can be a perfectly acceptable outcome. In China, getting a grade that is “just” 及格 might be a cause for relief, but rarely for celebration among ambitious students or their parents. This mindset is humorously captured in the common student slogan: “及格万岁，多一分浪费” (jígé wànsuì, duō yī fēn làngfèi), which translates to “Long live the passing grade, any point more is a waste!” It's a tongue-in-cheek expression of rebellion against the pressure to achieve perfect scores, highlighting the tension between simply passing and the cultural expectation to excel.

及格 (jígé) is most frequently used in academic contexts but can be applied to any situation with a clear pass/fail standard.

• In School and University: This is its home turf. Students talk about whether they 及格-ed their final exams, the HSK, or any other test.
  • e.g., “我这次数学考试终于及格了！” (I finally passed my math test this time!)
• In the Workplace: It can be used for performance reviews, professional certifications, or skills assessments.
  • e.g., “他的年度绩效勉强及格。” (His annual performance barely passed.)
• As a General Standard: It can be used more broadly as an adjective to describe something as “passable” or “adequate,” but not impressive.
  • e.g., “你做的这道菜，味道也就及格水平。” (The flavor of this dish you made is just at a passable level.)

The connotation is almost always neutral. It states a fact: the minimum standard was met. It is the absence of failure, not the presence of outstanding success.

• Example 1:
  • 我希望这次汉语水平考试能及格。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xīwàng zhè cì Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì néng jígé.
  • English: I hope I can pass the HSK test this time.
  • Analysis: A very common and straightforward use. 及格 is used as a verb expressing the goal of passing the exam.
• Example 2:
  • 你期末考试及格了吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ qīmò kǎoshì jígé le ma?
  • English: Did you pass your final exam?
  • Analysis: A simple question using the `…了吗 (…le ma?)` structure to ask about a completed action.
• Example 3:
  • 只要及格就行，我不在乎分数高低。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào jígé jiù xíng, wǒ bùzàihū fēnshù gāodī.
  • English: As long as I pass, it's fine; I don't care if the score is high or low.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the “just pass is enough” mentality. `只要…就行` (zhǐyào… jiù xíng) means “as long as… it's fine.”
• Example 4:
  • 他非常担心自己会不及格。
  • Pinyin: Tā fēicháng dānxīn zìjǐ huì bù jígé.
  • English: He is very worried that he will fail.
  • Analysis: Shows the negative form, 不及格 (bù jígé), which means “to not pass” or “to fail.”
• Example 5:
  • 这次考试太难了，我们班只有一半的人及格了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì kǎoshì tài nán le, wǒmen bān zhǐyǒu yībàn de rén jígé le.
  • English: This exam was too difficult; only half the people in our class passed.
  • Analysis: Used here to describe the outcome for a group of people.
• Example 6:
  • 他的驾驶考试考了三次才勉强及格。
  • Pinyin: Tā de jiàshǐ kǎoshì kǎo le sān cì cái miǎnqiǎng jígé.
  • English: He took the driving test three times before he finally barely passed.
  • Analysis: The adverb 勉强 (miǎnqiǎng), meaning “barely” or “with difficulty,” is often paired with 及格 to emphasize how close to failing someone was.
• Example 7:
  • 在我们公司，所有新员工都必须通过一个及格分数为80分的技术测试。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǒmen gōngsī, suǒyǒu xīn yuángōng dōu bìxū tōngguò yī ge jígé fēnshù wéi bāshí fēn de jìshù cèshì.
  • English: In our company, all new employees must pass a technical test with a passing score of 80.
  • Analysis: Here, 及格 is used adjectivally to modify 分数 (fēnshù), creating the compound noun 及格分数 (jígé fēnshù), or “passing score.”
• Example 8:
  • 作为一个演员，光有漂亮的脸蛋是不够的，演技也得及格才行。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī ge yǎnyuán, guāng yǒu piàoliang de liǎndàn shì bùgòu de, yǎnjì yě děi jígé cái xíng.
  • English: As an actor, just having a pretty face isn't enough; your acting skills also have to be at least passable.
  • Analysis: This shows the broader usage of 及格 to mean “meeting a minimum standard” or being “adequate” outside of an academic context.
• Example 9:
  • 他所有的科目都得了高分，只有体育勉强及格。
  • Pinyin: Tā suǒyǒu de kēmù dōu dé le gāofēn, zhǐyǒu tǐyù miǎnqiǎng jígé.
  • English: He got high scores in all his subjects; only P.E. did he barely pass.
  • Analysis: This directly contrasts 高分 (gāofēn - high score) with 及格, highlighting the cultural difference between excelling and just meeting the minimum.
• Example 10:
  • 听说今年的及格线比去年高。
  • Pinyin: Tīngshuō jīnnián de jígé xiàn bǐ qùnián gāo.
  • English: I heard the passing line this year is higher than last year.
  • Analysis: Introduces the term 及格线 (jígé xiàn), or “passing line/cutoff,” a very specific and useful term related to exams.

• 及格 (jígé) vs. 通过 (tōngguò): This is a key distinction for learners.
  • 及格 (jígé): Specifically refers to meeting a quantitative passing score or grade (e.g., 60/100). It's about the grade itself. You 及格 an exam.
  • 通过 (tōngguò): Is much broader. It means “to pass through,” “to get approved,” or “to pass” in a more general sense. You can 通过 an exam, but you can also 通过 a security check, 通过 a job interview, or 通过 a proposal. You would never say a job interview “及格了”.
  • Incorrect: 我的面试及格了。 (Wǒ de miànshì jígé le.) → This sounds very strange.
  • Correct: 我通过了面试。 (Wǒ tōngguò le miànshì.)
• Avoid Over-Enthusiastic Praise: Congratulating a friend by saying “你及格了!” (Nǐ jígé le! - You passed!) can sound slightly condescending, as if you were surprised they didn't fail. It's better to use a more general congratulatory phrase like “太棒了!” (Tài bàng le! - Awesome!) or “恭喜你!” (Gōngxǐ nǐ! - Congratulations!).

• `不及格 (bù jígé)` - The direct antonym of 及格, meaning “to fail” an exam by not reaching the passing score.
• `通过 (tōngguò)` - A broader synonym meaning “to pass” or “to get approved,” applicable to tests, interviews, and proposals.
• `分数 (fēnshù)` - Score; grade. The number that determines whether or not you 及格.
• `考试 (kǎoshì)` - Exam; test. The primary context where 及格 is used.
• `挂科 (guà kē)` - A very common colloquial term for “failing a course.” Literally “to hang a subject.” More informal than 不及格.
• `补考 (bǔkǎo)` - A make-up exam. What you have to take if your first attempt was 不及格.
• `高分 (gāofēn)` - High score. The cultural ideal, and the conceptual opposite of merely achieving 及格.
• `满分 (mǎnfēn)` - Full marks; a perfect score. The ultimate achievement in an exam.
• `学霸 (xuébà)` - A “study tyrant” or top student; the kind of person who is never satisfied with just 及格.