HSK V7-9
Correct
状元
/ zhuàngyuán /
Strokes
Definition
top scorer in the palace examination (highest rank of the Imperial examination system)/see 榜眼[bǎng yǎn] and 探花[tàn huā]/top scorer in college entrance examination 高考[gāo kǎo]/(fig.) the most brilliantly talented person in the field/leading light
Example
As a Noun
Number One Scholar ［title conferred on the one who comes out first in the highest imperial examination］
As a Noun
the very best (in any field)