kowtow (ritual); grovel; beg humbly
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to kowtow; to perform the ancient kneeling-and-bowing ritual
archaicHistorically a formal act of deep respect, submission, or worship to superiors, elders, or deities in imperial China. The action often involves kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground one or multiple times.
Chén臣
zi子
xiàng向
huáng皇
dì帝
kē磕
tóu头
xíng行
lǐ礼
。
The court officials performed the kowtow to the emperor.
Àn按
zhào照
jiù旧
sú俗
，
xīn新
rén人
yào要
xiàng向
fù父
mǔ母
kē磕
tóu头
。
According to the old custom, the newlyweds must kowtow to their parents.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Tā他
zài在
sì寺
miào庙
de的
shén神
xiàng像
qián前
qián虔
chéng诚
dì地
kē磕
le了
sān三
ge个
tóu头
。
He piously kowtowed three times before the idol in the temple.