# 名列前茅

míng liè qián máo

Rank among the leading performers

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** One's name is listed at the front

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Describe placing near the top in a ranking or comparison.

It does not necessarily mean first place, and rankings measure only selected qualities.

## The image & its use

A list of results can show that someone belongs to the leading group without saying they finished first. This expression describes that high position. It can refer to a class result, a competition, or a comparison of institutions and products. The criteria behind the list matter. Strong placement in one area does not capture every quality of the person or thing being measured. Identify the particular ranking, and recognize the preparation or strengths that helped produce the result.

## Examples

她的阅读比赛成绩名列前茅。

### Traditional Chinese

她的閱讀比賽成績名列前茅。

tā de yuè dú bǐ sài chéng jì míng liè qián máo 。

Her reading competition result placed her among the leaders.

这所学校在图书借阅活动中名列前茅。

### Traditional Chinese

這所學校在圖書借閱活動中名列前茅。

zhè suǒ xué xiào zài tú shū jiè yuè huó dòng zhōng míng liè qián máo 。

The school ranked among the leaders in the library borrowing activity.

他的作品在评选中名列前茅。

### Traditional Chinese

他的作品在評選中名列前茅。

tā de zuò pǐn zài píng xuǎn zhōng míng liè qián máo 。

His work placed near the top in the selection.

名列前茅值得高兴，也要继续认真学习。

### Traditional Chinese

名列前茅值得高興，也要繼續認真學習。

míng liè qián máo zhí dé gāo xìng ， yě yào jì xù rèn zhēn xué xí 。

A leading result is worth celebrating while continuing to study carefully.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1346&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%90%8D%E5%88%97%E5%89%8D%E8%8C%85)

## Keep exploring

- [磨杵成针 mó chǔ chéng zhēn Achieve a difficult goal through persistent effort ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/mo-chu-cheng-zhen)

- [披荆斩棘 pī jīng zhǎn jí Overcome obstacles while forging a path ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/pi-jing-zhan-ji)

- [披星戴月 pī xīng dài yuè Travel or toil from early until late ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/pi-xing-dai-yue)

- [疲于奔命 pí yú bēn mìng Exhausted by constantly responding to demands ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/pi-yu-ben-ming)

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