可他 却连春闱下场的信心 都没有
“But this man doesn't even have the confidence to sit for the spring exams.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
你说爷要是查了他 就会害他误了科考 丢了仕途
“You said if I investigated him, I'd ruin his exams and career.”
可他 却 连 春闱 下场 的信心 都 没有
“But this man doesn't even have the confidence to sit for the spring exams.”
“I dangled a little bait and he jumped at it.”
“Don't pity him—he is too cowardly and incompetent to succeed on his own anyway.”
Passing the metropolitan spring exam was the pinnacle of achievement in imperial China, determining whether an educated man could enter elite officialdom; lacking the nerve to sit for it marked someone as unworthy of respect.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
the spring imperial examination (metropolitan exam)
A classical historical term referring to the prestigious triennial imperial examinations held in the capital during spring.
to enter the examination hall / sit for the civil service exam
In historical contexts, it specifically refers to entering the exam venue to compete; do not confuse with the modern meaning of 'bad outcome'.
doesn't even have...
A common emphatic construction used to highlight an extreme lack of a basic quality or requirement.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“But he intended to flee.”
“But for my sake,”
“he hasn't said a single word about it.”
“But he won't hear of any fuss and I dare not press the matter.”
“I expect you'll pass the metropolitan exam.”
“But he's always cautious.”