kòu
叩阍
knock; kowtow; to appeal for justice
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
3 senses · 6 examplesverb
to knock; to tap
literaryA literary or formal term for knocking.
Tā他
qīng轻
qīng轻
kòu叩
xiǎng响
le了
fáng房
mén门
。
He gently knocked on the door.
Kòu叩
zhōng钟
qí祈
fú福
shì是
yī一
zhǒng种
chuán传
tǒng统
xí习
sú俗
。
Striking a bell to pray for blessings is a traditional custom.
verb
to kowtow; to prostrate oneself in respect
literaryA traditional act of deep respect or worship.
Gǔ古
dài代
chén臣
zǐ子
yào要
xiàng向
huáng皇
dì帝
xíng行
kòu叩
bài拜
zhī之
lǐ礼
。
In ancient times, officials had to perform the kowtow ceremony to the emperor.
Tā他
zài在
zǔ祖
xiān先
de的
líng灵
wèi位
qián前
kòu叩
le了
sān三
gè个
tóu头
。
He kowtowed three times before the ancestral tablet.
verb
to appeal to the authorities for justice; to petition for redress of grievances
archaicAn archaic term from classical literature or historical contexts. In modern usage, this sense is rarely used on its own and is almost exclusively seen in the idiom 叩阍无门.
Bǎi百
xìng姓
hán含
yuān冤
mò莫
bái白
，
què却
wú无
chù处
kòu叩
hūn阍
。
The people suffered injustice with no hope of redress, having nowhere to appeal.
Kòu叩
hūn阍
wú无
mén门
，
shì是
nà那
gè个
shí时
dài代
xiǎo小
rén人
wù物
de的
pǔ普
biàn遍
bēi悲
jù剧
。
Having no recourse to appeal was a common tragedy for common folk in that era.