名列前茅
míng liè qián máo
to rank among the very best
Character by character
名míng
name
name
列liè
ranked
ranked
前qián
front
front
茅máo
banner
banner
Example
他的成绩在全年级名列前茅。
His results are among the best in his year.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
前茅 were the scouts who carried reed banners at the head of an army.
Learn this in Lesson 6 · HSK 5: 一线城市 (City tiers)
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.
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