资格

The Chinese word 资格 (zīgé) is composed of two characters: 资 (zī) and 格 (gé). 资 originally meant "provisions" or "capital", and later extended to mean "qualifications" or "ability". 格 originally meant "a frame" or "a standard", and later extended to mean "rank" or "status". Together, 资格 means "qualifications" or "eligibility".The earliest recorded use of 资格 is in the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE). It was used in the sense of "qualifications" or "ability". For example, in the Book of Han, it is said that "The emperor should select officials based on their 资格 (qualifications) and 德行 (virtue)".Over time, the meaning of 资格 expanded to include "eligibility" or "status". For example, in the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE), it was said that "Only those who have passed the imperial examinations have the 资格 (eligibility) to become officials".Today, 资格 is still used in the sense of "qualifications" or "eligibility". It is also used in the sense of "rank" or "status". For example, we can say that someone has a high 资格 (rank) in society, or that someone is not qualified for a certain job because they do not have the necessary 资格 (qualifications).