This is the 7134th most frequent Chinese word.
科举
The Chinese word "科举" refers to the imperial examination system used in ancient China to select candidates for government positions.
Here, '科举制度' refers to the historical system itself, emphasizing its role in official selection.
科举制度是中国古代选拔官吏的一种方式。
The imperial examination system was a method in ancient China to select officials.
In this sentence, '科举考试' refers to the examination process, highlighting its role in socio-economic mobility.
通过科举考试，寒门学子也能步入仕途。
Through the imperial examinations, poor students could also start an official career.
Here, '科举' is used in a broader sense to denote its historical and cultural legacy.