jīnbǎng tímíng: 金榜题名 - To Succeed in the Imperial Examinations; To Achieve Academic Success

• Keywords: jīnbǎng tímíng, jinbang timing, 金榜题名, succeed in exams, pass exams Chinese, imperial examination, academic success, Chinese idiom for success, gaokao, 高考, chengyu, Chinese blessing
• Summary: 金榜题名 (jīnbǎng tímíng) is a famous Chinese idiom that literally translates to “name inscribed on the golden list.” Originating from the ancient imperial examinations, it represents the ultimate academic achievement and the immense honor of passing a life-changing test. Today, it's widely used as a powerful blessing for students facing major exams like the 高考 (gāokǎo), China's national college entrance exam. Learning this term offers a deep insight into the cultural value placed on education, hard work, and bringing honor to one's family in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jīnbǎng tímíng
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Chinese Idiom); Verb Phrase
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: To have one's name successfully placed on the list of winners for a major examination.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a time when the only way to a better life was to pass a single, incredibly difficult national test. Succeeding meant your name would be written on a golden billboard for all to see, bringing glory to you and your entire family. That's the feeling of `金榜题名`. It's not just “passing”; it's a glorious, transformative success. In modern times, it's the ultimate good luck wish for any student facing a high-stakes exam.

• 金 (jīn): Gold or golden. Here, it signifies value, prestige, and honor.
• 榜 (bǎng): A public list of names, like a notice board or a chart of rankings.
• 题 (tí): To inscribe, to write, or to list.
• 名 (míng): Name.

These characters combine to paint a vivid picture: to have one's name (名) inscribed (题) on the golden (金) list (榜). The imagery is powerful, evoking a sense of official recognition and immense prestige.

`金榜题名` is deeply rooted in China's 科举 (kējǔ), the imperial examination system that existed for over 1,300 years (from around 605 to 1905). For centuries, this was the primary path for commoners to enter the state bureaucracy and achieve social mobility. Success was rare and required years, often decades, of intense study—a concept captured by the idiom 十年寒窗 (shí nián hán chuāng), “ten years studying by a cold window.” To `金榜题名` was not just a personal victory; it was a communal one. It brought immense honor (or 面子, miànzi) to one's entire family, clan, and village. The successful scholar would be celebrated with parades and banquets, and their success would elevate the status of everyone connected to them. Comparison to Western Culture: A Western equivalent might be “making the Dean's list,” “graduating summa cum laude,” or “getting into an Ivy League school.” However, none of these fully capture the societal weight of `金榜题名`. The key difference is the scale of transformation. In imperial China, it was often the only path to power and wealth, a single event that could lift an entire family out of poverty for generations. This historical weight is still felt today in the immense pressure surrounding the modern `高考` (gāokǎo). This term reflects the core Confucian value of meritocracy through education and the deep-seated belief in filial piety—the duty to bring honor to one's parents.

In modern China, `金榜题名` is almost exclusively used in the context of major, life-altering examinations.

• The Gaokao (高考): This is the primary context. Before the exam, you will see banners at high schools, posts on social media, and hear relatives all wishing students `祝你金榜题名!` (Zhù nǐ jīnbǎng tímíng! - “Wishing you great success!”).
• Other Major Exams: It can also be used for other critical tests, such as the national civil service exam (公务员考试, gōngwùyuán kǎoshì), graduate school entrance exams (考研, kǎoyán), or important professional certifications.
• Connotation and Formality: The term carries a very positive, formal, and celebratory connotation. It is a powerful blessing and a statement of high achievement. It is never used sarcastically or for minor tests.

• Example 1:
  • 祝你在今年的高考中金榜题名！
  • Pinyin: Zhù nǐ zài jīnnián de gāokǎo zhōng jīnbǎng tímíng!
  • English: Wishing you success on this year's Gaokao!
  • Analysis: This is a classic blessing given to a student before the national college entrance exam. It's a very common and sincere way to wish them the best.
• Example 2:
  • 儿子金榜题名了，考上了北京大学，我们全家都为他感到骄傲。
  • Pinyin: Érzi jīnbǎng tímíng le, kǎoshàngle Běijīng Dàxué, wǒmen quánjiā dōu wèi tā gǎndào jiāo'ào.
  • English: My son achieved great success in his exams and got into Peking University; our whole family is so proud of him.
  • Analysis: Here, the phrase is used to announce the happy result. It emphasizes not just passing, but achieving a prestigious outcome (getting into a top university).
• Example 3:
  • 为了能金榜题名，他已经准备了三年。
  • Pinyin: Wèile néng jīnbǎng tímíng, tā yǐjīng zhǔnbèi le sān nián.
  • English: In order to succeed in the big exam, he has been preparing for three years.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the long, hard effort required to achieve this level of success. It connects `金榜题名` with the idea of diligent preparation.
• Example 4:
  • 每个父母都希望自己的孩子能够金榜题名，前程似锦。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge fùmǔ dōu xīwàng zìjǐ de háizi nénggòu jīnbǎng tímíng, qiánchéng sì jǐn.
  • English: Every parent hopes their child can achieve academic glory and have a bright future.
  • Analysis: This shows the deep-seated cultural expectation. It's often paired with other idioms like 前程似锦 (qiánchéng sì jǐn), meaning “a future as bright as brocade.”
• Example 5:
  • 在古代，金榜题名是许多读书人一生的追求。
  • Pinyin: Zài gǔdài, jīnbǎng tímíng shì xǔduō dúshūrén yīshēng de zhuīqiú.
  • English: In ancient times, succeeding in the imperial examinations was the lifelong pursuit of many scholars.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the idiom in its original, historical context, referring to the imperial examination system.
• Example 6:
  • 他日夜苦读，就是为了有朝一日能够金榜题名，光宗耀祖。
  • Pinyin: Tā rìyè kǔdú, jiùshì wèile yǒuzhāoyīrì nénggòu jīnbǎng tímíng, guāngzōngyàozǔ.
  • English: He studies hard day and night, all for the hope that one day he can pass the great exam and bring honor to his ancestors.
  • Analysis: This example connects `金榜题名` to another key cultural concept, `光宗耀祖` (guāngzōngyàozǔ), which means to bring glory to one's ancestors, highlighting the familial and collective nature of this success.
• Example 7:
  • 恭喜！听说你金榜题名，拿到了公务员的录取通知书！
  • Pinyin: Gōngxǐ! Tīngshuō nǐ jīnbǎng tímíng, nádàole gōngwùyuán de lùqǔ tōngzhīshū!
  • English: Congratulations! I heard you passed the exam with flying colors and got the acceptance letter for the civil servant position!
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the modern application of the idiom to the highly competitive civil service examinations.
• Example 8:
  • 虽然他这次没能金榜题名，但他没有放弃，决定明年再试一次。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán tā zhè cì méi néng jīnbǎng tímíng, dàn tā méiyǒu fàngqì, juédìng míngnián zài shì yī cì.
  • English: Although he didn't succeed in the exam this time, he hasn't given up and decided to try again next year.
  • Analysis: This shows how to use the phrase in the negative (`没能…`) to express failure in a major exam.
• Example 9:
  • 村里出了个状元，真是金榜题名天下知啊！
  • Pinyin: Cūn lǐ chūle ge zhuàngyuán, zhēn shì jīnbǎng tímíng tiānxià zhī a!
  • English: The village produced a top scholar; it's a case of “when your name is on the golden list, the whole world knows”!
  • Analysis: This hyperbolic sentence captures the celebratory spirit. It links `金榜题名` with the concept of the 状元 (zhuàngyuán), the highest-scoring scholar, whose fame would spread far and wide.
• Example 10:
  • 这幅画上画的就是古人金榜题名后衣锦还乡的场景。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fú huà shàng huà de jiùshì gǔrén jīnbǎng tímíng hòu yījǐnhuánxiāng de chǎngjǐng.
  • English: This painting depicts the scene of ancient people returning to their hometown in glorious brocade robes after succeeding in the imperial exams.
  • Analysis: This connects the idiom to another related concept, `衣锦还乡` (yījǐnhuánxiāng), which describes returning home with wealth and honor.

• Don't use it for small tests: The most common mistake is to use `金榜题名` for minor achievements. Wishing someone `金榜题名` for a weekly quiz or a driver's license test would sound overly dramatic and even sarcastic. Reserve it for life-defining exams like the `gaokao` or the bar exam.
  • Incorrect: `我希望我明天的数学小测验能金榜题名。` (Wǒ xīwàng wǒ míngtiān de shùxué xiǎo cèyàn néng jīnbǎng tímíng.)
  • Reason: It's just a small math quiz, not a life-changing event. A better phrase would be `考好` (kǎo hǎo - do well on the test) or `取得好成绩` (qǔdé hǎo chéngjì - get good grades).
• It's not a general term for “success”: `金榜题名` is specifically about success in major examinations. While it can be used metaphorically for a huge career breakthrough, this is rare. For general success, use 成功 (chénggōng). It would be incorrect to use it for winning a sports match or making a good business deal.
• False Friend: “Passing an exam”: `金榜题名` means more than just passing. The Chinese term for simply passing is 及格 (jígé) or 通过考试 (tōngguò kǎoshì). `金榜题名` implies not just passing, but succeeding brilliantly and securing a prestigious position as a result. It’s the difference between “I passed the test” and “I got into my dream university!”

• 高考 (gāokǎo) - The modern-day context where `金榜题名` is most frequently used; China's national college entrance examination.
• 科举 (kējǔ) - The historical imperial examination system from which the idiom originates.
• 状元 (zhuàngyuán) - The title given to the scholar who ranked first in the entire nation in the final imperial exam. This is the absolute pinnacle of `金榜题名`.
• 十年寒窗 (shí nián hán chuāng) - “Ten years by a cold window.” An idiom describing the long, arduous, and lonely years of study required to prepare for the exams.
• 鲤鱼跳龙门 (lǐyú tiào lóngmén) - “A carp leaps over the Dragon Gate.” A powerful metaphor for overcoming a great obstacle and achieving a dramatic transformation in one's status, often through passing an exam.
• 名落孙山 (míng luò sūn shān) - The direct antonym. It means to fail an examination. The name “Sun Shan” was the last person on the pass list; to be “after Sun Shan” meant you failed.
• 前程似锦 (qiánchéng sì jǐn) - “A future as bright as brocade.” A common blessing given to someone who has achieved `金榜题名` to wish them a brilliant career and life ahead.
• 光宗耀祖 (guāngzōngyàozǔ) - “To bring honor to one's ancestors.” A key motivation and outcome of achieving `金榜题名`.