成语趣谈（二十二）：名落孙山 About Chinese Idioms (22): Fall Behind Sun Shan- Fail the Exam

In the Wu State of the Song Dynasty, there was a talented scholar named Sun Shan. He is knowledgeable, literary, and full of passion and thirst for knowledge, embarking on a journey to the capital to prepare for the imperial examination.

At the moment of departure, Sun Shan's fellow townsman learned of his plan and entrusted his son to Sun Shan with hope, hoping that he could achieve good results in the imperial examination in the capital. Upon seeing this, Sun Shan readily agreed to the request of his fellow townsman and went to the capital with his son to take the exam.

Finally, it's time to publish the list of successful candidates. Sun Shan arrived at the place where the list was published early, staring wide eyed and carefully searching for his name. He scanned the list from top to bottom, from left to right, but he never found his name. Just as Sun Shan was about to give up, he finally saw his name on the last line of the list. Originally, his name surprisingly ranked last on the entire list. Sun Shan was so excited that he could hardly speak. He ran home ecstatic and reported the good news to his family.

However, when the fellow townsman saw Sun Shan returning home alone, he eagerly asked his son if he had achieved any official titles. Sun Shan didn't know how to answer for a moment. He didn't want to lie, nor did he want to directly tell his fellow townsman this cruel fact. So he had no choice but to casually recite two lines of poetry: “The last place on the list of successful candidates is me Sun Shan, but your son's name is still behind me Sun Shan.”

This poem quickly spread in the countryside and became a timeless allusion. From then on, people used the term “Fall Behind Sun Shan” to describe those who failed to achieve ideal results in exams or selections.

宋朝吴地，有一位才华横溢的书生，名叫孙山。他学识渊博，文采斐然，怀揣着满腔热血和对知识的渴望，踏上了通往京城的旅程，准备参加举人的考试。

临行之际，孙山的同乡得知了他的计划，便满怀希望地将自己的儿子托付给孙山，希望他能够在京城的科举考试中取得好成绩。孙山见状，欣然答应了同乡的请求，带着同乡的儿子一同前往京城应试。

终于，到了放榜的日子。孙山早早地来到了放榜的地点，他瞪大眼睛，仔细地寻找着自己的名字。他的目光从上至下，从左至右，一遍遍地扫过榜单，然而，却始终没有找到自己的名字。就在孙山即将放弃的时候，他终于在榜单的最后一行看到了自己的名字。原来，他的名字竟然排在了整个榜单的最后一位。孙山激动得几乎无法言语，他欣喜若狂地跑回家，向家人报喜讯。

然而，同乡见孙山独自一人回家，便急切地询问他的儿子是否考取了功名。孙山一时间不知如何回答，他既不想撒谎，又不愿直接告诉同乡这个残酷的事实。于是，他只好随口念出了两句诗：“解名尽处乃孙山，贤郎更在孙山外。”这句诗的意思是说，榜上最后一名是我孙山，而你的儿子的名字还在我孙山的后面。

这句诗很快在乡里传开，成为了一个流传千古的典故。从此以后，人们便用“名落孙山”这个词来形容那些在考试或选拔中未能取得理想成绩的人。

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