Phrase guide

eight-legged essay

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A standardized argumentative essay consisting of eight parts, written by candidates in the Chinese imperial examination.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

Topics: education

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Calque of Chinese 八股文 (bāgǔwén).

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 八股文 (bāgǔwén) — portion of the imperial examination
  • Chinese Mandarin: 八股 (bāgǔ) — portion of the imperial examination
  • Chinese Mandarin: 四書文 /四书文 (sìshūwén) — portion of the imperial examination
  • Chinese Mandarin: 制藝 /制艺 (zhìyì) — portion of the imperial examination
  • Chinese Mandarin: 時文 /时文 (shíwén) — portion of the imperial examination
  • Finnish: kahdeksanosainen essee — portion of the imperial examination
  • Marathi: आठ पायांचा निबंध (āṭh pāyāñcā nibandha) — portion of the imperial examination