光宗耀祖

guāng zōng yào zǔ

to bring honour to your family

Character by character

光guāng
bring glory to

宗zōng
the clan

耀yào
honour

祖zǔ
the ancestors

在过去，考中进士是光宗耀祖的大事。

In the past, passing the highest exam was a great event that honoured one’s ancestors.

Tone: positive (praise).

Learn this in Lesson 78 · HSK 6–7: 科举制度 (The imperial examinations)

A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.