kowtow; bow and scrape
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
kowtow; bow and scrape; flatter servilely
derogatoryA classical idiom, often criticizing or describing someone who humiliates themselves for personal gain or to please superiors. Strongly derogatory, implying servility and lack of integrity. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
Tā他
bù不
yuàn愿
wèi为
wǔ五
dǒu斗
mǐ米
cuī摧
méi眉
zhé折
yāo腰
，
yì毅
rán然
cí辞
guān官
guī归
yǐn隐
。
Unwilling to kowtow for a meager salary, he resolutely resigned from office and retired to seclusion.
Zài在
quán权
shì势
miàn面
qián前
，
tā他
cóng从
bù不
cuī摧
méi眉
zhé折
yāo腰
。
He never bows and scrapes before power and influence.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Nà那
zhǒng种
cuī摧
méi眉
zhé折
yāo腰
de的
mèi媚
tài态
lìng令
rén人
ǒu作
tù呕
。
That kind of fawning servility is nauseating.
Lǐ李
Bái白
yǒu有
shī诗
yún云
：
“
Ān安
néng能
cuī摧
méi眉
zhé折
yāo腰
shì事
quán权
guì贵
，
shǐ使
wǒ我
bù不
dé得
kāi开
xīn心
yán颜
！
”
Li Bai wrote in his poem: "How can I kowtow and serve the mighty, making myself unhappy and joyless?"