独占鳌头(獨佔鰲頭)
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 & perseverance.
Also searched as: du zhan ao tou, du zhan ao tou,独占鳌头 meaning, 独占鳌头 in english
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.
When to Use
Situation: She ranked first in the national examination.
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jiàng xīn dú yùn
Apply creative genius; show ingenuity
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独具匠心
dú jù jiàng xīn
Show great ingenuity; have original design
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别具一格
bié jù yī gé
Have unique style; be distinctive
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独树一帜
dú shù yī zhì
Be unique; have distinctive style
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出神入化
chū shén rù huà
Reach supernatural skill level
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gōng chéng míng jiù
Achieve success and fame
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名利双收
míng lì shuāng shōu
Gain both fame and fortune
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bù bù gāo shēng
Advance steadily; continuous promotion
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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 theSuccess & Perseverance category..
When is 独占鳌头 used?
Situation: She ranked first in the national examination.
What is the pinyin for 独占鳌头?
The pinyin pronunciation for 独占鳌头 is “dú zhàn áo tóu”.