独占鳌头 dú zhàn áo tóu

DEFINITIONS

  1. to come first in triennial palace examinations (idiom, refers to the carved stone turtle head in front of the imperial palace, next to which the most successful candidate in the imperial examinations was entitled to stand)
  2. to be the champion
  3. to be the very best in any field

CHARACTERS

独 dú
HSK 5
alone, single, solitary, only
占 zhàn
HSK 4
divine; observe; versify
鳌 áo huge sea turtle
头 tóu
HSK 3
head; top; chief, first; boss