报考

• Pinyin: bào kǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 报 = to report/apply; 考 = 老 (old) + 丂, to test/examine

Meaning

To register for an examination; to apply to take a test. The act of signing up for admission tests or certification exams.

Used when applying to take entrance exams for schools, professional certifications, or civil service positions. A crucial step in the Chinese education and career system. Often discussed during application seasons for universities or government jobs.

Examples

1. 今年报考这所大学的学生人数创下了新高。 The number of students applying to this university reached a new high this year.
2. 她决定报考公务员考试，希望能有一份稳定的工作。 She decided to register for the civil service exam, hoping to have a stable job.
3. 报考截止日期是下周五，别忘了提交材料。 The registration deadline is next Friday — don't forget to submit your materials.

Usage Guide

Context: education, career

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 我打算报考北京大学的研究生。(I plan to apply for the graduate program at Peking University.)
• 报考条件和流程在官网上都有说明。(The application requirements and process are all explained on the official website.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'我报考了那个公司' (Don't say 'I applied for an exam at that company' — for job applications, use 应聘 or 申请; 报考 is specifically for exams)

Origin & History

Compound of 报 (to report, apply) + 考 (exam, test), meaning to register for an exam.

Cultural Context

Generation: Students, job seekers

Social background: Universal