独占鳌头
独占鳌头 (dú zhàn áo tóu) literally means “alone occupy the turtle's head” and expresses “come first; win top honors”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: du zhan ao tou, du zhan ao tou,独占鳌头 meaning, 独占鳌头 in english
Come first; win top honors
Pronunciation: dú zhàn áo tóu
Literal meaning: Alone occupy the turtle's head
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes alone (独) occupying (占) the turtle's (鳌) head (头). In imperial examinations, the top scholar would stand on the carved turtle head at the palace. The phrase represents achieving first place. Modern usage describes being number one, winning top honors in any competition or field.
Examples
English: "She ranked first in the national examination."
Chinese: 她在全国考试中独占鳌头。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 独占鳌头 mean in English?
独占鳌头 (dú zhàn áo tóu) literally translates to “Alone occupy the turtle's head” and is used to express “Come first; win top honors”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 独占鳌头 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving come first; win top honors.
What is the pinyin for 独占鳌头?
The pinyin pronunciation for 独占鳌头 is “dú zhàn áo tóu”.