📖 Meaning
To rank among the top positions in a competition, examination, or ranking. The term comes from ancient military practice where advance scouts carried reed banners to signal the way ahead. It is now used to describe someone who places at or near the top of a list.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the 'Zuo Zhuan' (《左传·宣公十二年》), a historical text from the Spring and Autumn period. In the original passage, it describes the military formations of the Chu state army, where the vanguard carried reed (茅) banners to scout and warn of dangers ahead. Over time, the phrase shifted from its literal military meaning to denote ranking at the forefront of any group. The Spring and Autumn period context involved the state of Chu's organized military discipline under leaders like Wei Ao.
💡 Example Usage
他在这次全国数学竞赛中名列前茅，为学校赢得了荣誉。
He ranked among the top in the national math competition and brought honor to his school.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 名列前茅
- Pinyin: míng liè qián máo
- Literal Translation: name, rank, front, reed
- Category: Success
- Characters: 4