bow and make obeisances; show humility and supplication
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to bow deeply and cup one's hands in greeting or supplication
literaryDescribes an old-fashioned, formal, and submissive way of showing respect, humility, or earnest pleading. Often used to depict someone groveling or being extremely deferential, sometimes ironically.
Wèi为
le了
qiú求
dé得
yuán原
liàng谅
，
tā他
zài在
lǎo老
xiān先
sheng生
miàn面
qián前
dǎ打
gōng躬
zuò作
yī揖
，
shuō说
le了
wú无
shù数
hǎo好
huà话
。
To seek forgiveness, he bowed deeply and said countless nice words in front of the old gentleman.
Tā他
bù不
bì必
duì对
lǎo老
bǎn板
rú如
cǐ此
dǎ打
gōng躬
zuò作
yī揖
，
kào靠
zì自
jǐ己
de的
shí实
lì力
shuō说
huà话
jiù就
xíng行
。
He doesn't need to grovel to the boss like that; he can rely on his own competence.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Zài在
jiù旧
xiǎo小
shuō说
lǐ里
，
shī师
yé爷
jiàn见
le了
xiàn县
tài太
yé爷
zǒng总
yào要
dǎ打
gōng躬
zuò作
yī揖
。
In old novels, the advisor would always bow deeply upon meeting the county magistrate.
Kàn看
tā他
nà那
fù副
dǎ打
gōng躬
zuò作
yī揖
de的
mú模
yàng样
，
jiù就
zhī知
dào道
shì是
yǒu有
shì事
xiāng相
qiú求
。
Seeing his humble, bowing demeanor makes it clear he has a favor to ask.