状元

狀元
zhuàngyuán
  1. top scorer in the palace examination (highest rank of the Imperial examination system)
  2. see 榜眼 bǎngyǎn and 探花 tànhuā
  3. top scorer in college entrance examination 高考 gāokǎo
  4. (fig.) the most brilliantly talented person in the field
  5. leading light

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 状 zhuàng
  1. (bound form) form; appearance; shape
  2. (bound form) state; condition
  3. (bound form) to describe
  4. (bound form) written complaint; lawsuit
  5. (bound form) certificate
2 元 yuán
  1. currency unit (esp. Chinese yuan)
  2. (bound form) first; original; primary
  3. (bound form) basic; fundamental
  4. (bound form) constituent; part
  5. (prefix) meta-
  6. (math.) argument; variable
  7. era (of a reign)
  8. (Tw) (geology) eon