zuōyī

作揖

Word · Verb

make a bow with hands folded in front; cup hands and salute

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 3 examples
1.

verb

to make a bow with hands folded in front; to cup one hand in the other before the chest and bow slightly as a sign of respect

neutral

Traditional Chinese etiquette where the left hand covers the right hand for men (the opposite for women in traditional contexts). In spoken language, the second syllable is often pronounced with a neutral tone (zuō yi).

Tā他
gěi给
lǎo老
rén人
jiā家
zuò作
le了
ge个
yī揖
 。

He made a bow to the elderly person.

Jìn进
le了
cí祠
táng堂
 ,
yào要
xiàng向
zǔ祖
xiān先
pái牌
wèi位
zuō作
yī揖
 。

Upon entering the ancestral hall, one must bow to the memorial tablets of the ancestors.

Show 1 more example
Liǎng两
rén人
jiàn见
miàn面
dǎ打
gōng躬
zuō作
yī揖
 ,
shí十
fēn分
kè客
qi气
 。

When the two met, they bowed to each other with great courtesy.