屡试不第 Lǚ shì bù dì Repeatedly failed the examination

Explanation

屡试不第指的是多次参加科举考试都没有考中。在古代中国，科举考试是仕途的主要途径，屡试不第意味着仕途受阻，理想难以实现。

Lǚshì bùdì refers to failing the imperial examinations repeatedly. In ancient China, the imperial examinations were the primary means of entering the civil service; failing repeatedly meant that one's career would be hindered and one's ideals could not be realized.

Origin Story

书生李清，自幼聪颖，熟读诗书，立志金榜题名，光宗耀祖。他年少时便开始准备科举考试，寒窗苦读，十年如一日。然而，命运弄人，他屡试不第，一次又一次地与功名失之交臂。乡试、会试，他都名落孙山，眼看着同窗好友一个个高中，飞黄腾达，他却只能独自黯然神伤。但他并没有气馁，依旧坚持不懈地复习备考，希望能够在未来的考试中取得好成绩，实现自己的理想。然而，现实的残酷一次又一次地打击着他，让他对自己的能力产生了怀疑。一次又一次的失败，让他心灰意冷，但他依然没有放弃自己的梦想。最终，他选择放下执念，转而投身于教育事业，将自己的知识传授给更多的人，为国家培养人才。

shū shēng lǐ qīng, zì yòu cōng yǐng, shú dú shī shū, lì zhì jīn bǎng tí míng, guāng zōng yào zǔ. tā nián shào shí biàn kāi shǐ zhǔn bèi kē jǔ kǎo shì, hán chuāng kǔ dú, shí nián rú yī rì. rán ér, mìng yùn nòng rén, tā lǚ shì bù dì, yī cì yī cì dì yǔ gōng míng shī zhī jiāo bì. xiāng shì, huì shì, tā dōu míng luò sūn shān, yǎn kàn zhe tóng chuāng hǎo yǒu yī gè yī gè gāo zhōng, fēi huáng téng dá, tā què zhǐ néng dú zì àn rán shén shāng. dàn shì tā bìng méi yǒu qì něi, yī jiù jiān chí bù xiè de fù xí bèi kǎo, xī wàng néng gòu zài wèi lái de kǎo shì zhōng qǔ dé hǎo chéng jì, shí xiàn zì jǐ de lǐ xiǎng. rán ér, xiàn shí de cán kù yī cì yī cì dì dǎ jī zhe tā, ràng tā duì zì jǐ de néng lì chǎn shēng le huái yí. yī cì yī cì de shī bài, ràng tā xīn huī yì lěng, dàn shì tā yī rán méi yǒu fàng qì zì jǐ de mèng xiǎng. zuì zhōng, tā xuǎn zé fàng xià zhí niàn, zhuǎn ér tóu shēn yú jiào yù shì yè, jiāng zì jǐ de zhī shì chuán shòu gěi gèng duō de rén, wèi guó jiā péi yǎng rén cái.

The scholar Li Qing, intelligent since childhood, diligently read books and aspired to pass the imperial examinations and bring honor to his family. He began preparing for the examinations at a young age, studying diligently for years. However, fate played a cruel hand, as he repeatedly failed the examinations, repeatedly missing out on success. He failed both the provincial and metropolitan examinations, watching as his classmates achieved high positions and prospered while he remained despondent. Yet he didn’t lose heart and persevered in his studies, hoping to achieve success in future examinations and realize his dreams. The harsh realities of repeated failure caused him to doubt his abilities and led him to despair. However, he never abandoned his dreams. Ultimately, he chose to let go of his obsession, dedicating himself to education, sharing his knowledge with others, and fostering talent for the nation.

Usage

用于形容多次尝试但都失败的经历，常用于表达在学习、工作或追求目标过程中遇到挫折的无奈和辛酸。

yòng yú xíng róng duō cì cháng shì dàn dōu shī bài de jīng lì, cháng yòng yú biǎo dá zài xué xí, gōng zuò huò zhuī qiú mù biāo guò chéng zhōng yù dào cuò zhé de wú nài hé xīn suān

Used to describe experiences of repeated failure, often expressing the helplessness and bitterness encountered in setbacks during learning, work, or the pursuit of goals.

Examples

• 他寒窗苦读十年，最终却屡试不第，令人惋惜。

  tā hán chuāng kǔ dú shí nián, zuì zhōng què lǚ shì bù dì, lìng rén wǎn xī

  He studied hard for ten years, but ultimately failed the imperial examination repeatedly, which is regrettable.

• 屡试不第的他，最终放弃了科举考试，选择经商。

  lǚ shì bù dì de tā, zuì zhōng fàng qì le kē jǔ kǎo shì, xuǎn zé jīng shāng

  Having failed the imperial examination repeatedly, he eventually abandoned it and went into business.

• 科举考试竞争激烈，许多士子屡试不第，黯然神伤。

  kē jǔ kǎo shì jìng zhēng jī liè, xǔ duō shì zi lǚ shì bù dì, àn rán shén shāng

  The imperial examination was highly competitive; many scholars repeatedly failed and were disheartened.

Related Idioms

• 十年寒窗

• 怀才不遇

Opposite Idioms

• 金榜题名

• 一举成名