bow and scrape; grovel; servile
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to grovel; to bow and scrape; to be servile and obsequious
formalCriticizes someone for lacking self-respect and flattering others to gain favor, often a powerful figure.
Tā他
zài在
shàng上
sī司
miàn面
qián前
bēi卑
gōng躬
qū屈
xī膝
，
háo毫
wú无
zūn尊
yán严
。
He grovels in front of his superiors, devoid of any dignity.
Tā他
nìng宁
kě可
shī失
yè业
，
yě也
bù不
yuàn愿
duì对
lǎo老
bǎn板
bēi卑
gōng躬
qū屈
xī膝
。
He would rather lose his job than grovel to his boss.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Zhēn真
zhèng正
de的
qiáng强
zhě者
bù不
xū需
yào要
bié别
rén人
duì对
tā他
bēi卑
gōng躬
qū屈
xī膝
。
A truly strong person does not need others to bow and scrape before him.
Nà那
duàn段
lì历
shǐ史
jì记
zǎi载
le了
yī一
gè个
mín民
zú族
zài在
wài外
dí敌
miàn面
qián前
bēi卑
gōng躬
qū屈
xī膝
de的
chǐ耻
rǔ辱
。
That period of history records the shame of a nation groveling before foreign invaders.