submit as a vassal; serve a ruler
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to submit and pledge allegiance; to acknowledge sovereignty
formalDescribes a state or people submitting to a conqueror or superior power. Often used in historical or formal contexts.
Zhàn战
bài败
de的
xiǎo小
guó国
bèi被
pò迫
xiàng向
dà大
guó国
chén臣
fú服
。
The defeated small state was forced to submit to the great power.
Tā他
nìng宁
sǐ死
bù不
qū屈
，
jué绝
bù不
chén臣
fú服
yú于
qīn侵
lüè略
zhě者
。
He would rather die than submit to the invaders.
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Lì历
shǐ史
shang上
，
xǔ许
duō多
bù部
luò落
dōu都
chén臣
fú服
yú于
zhōng中
yāng央
wáng王
cháo朝
。
Historically, many tribes submitted to the central dynasty.
verb
to serve (a ruler) as a subject; to pay homage
literaryRefers specifically to the act of serving a monarch with the rituals and loyalty expected of a subject. A classical/literary term.
Tā他
bì毕
shēng生
zhōng忠
chéng诚
de地
chén臣
fú服
yú于
tā他
de的
jūn君
wáng王
。
He served his king loyally all his life.
Gǔ古
dài代
zhū诸
hóu侯
bì必
xū须
xiàng向
tiān天
zǐ子
chén臣
fú服
nà纳
gòng贡
。
In ancient times, feudal lords had to serve the Son of Heaven and pay tribute.
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Zài在
cháo朝
táng堂
shang上
，
bǎi百
guān官
xiàng向
huáng皇
dì帝
xíng行
chén臣
fú服
zhī之
lǐ礼
。
In the imperial court, all officials performed the ritual of homage to the emperor.