蟾宮折桂 chán gōng zhé guì

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. plucking a branch of osmanthus from the Toad Palace (i.e. the moon)
  2. fig. to succeed in the imperial examination

CHARACTERS

蟾 chán toad
宮 gōng palace, temple, dwelling, enclose
折 zhé
HSK 4
break off, snap; bend
桂 guì cassia or cinnamon