kowtow

英 [ˌkaʊˈtaʊ]

美 [ˌkaʊˈtaʊ]

v.  叩头; 磕头; 卑躬屈膝; 唯命是从

现在分词：kowtowing　过去式：kowtowed　第三人称单数：kowtows　过去分词：kowtowed　

TEM8

BNC.35359 / COCA.27978

牛津词典

verb

• 叩头；磕头；卑躬屈膝；唯命是从
  to show sb in authority too much respect and be too willing to obey them

柯林斯词典

• VERB 叩头;磕头；卑躬屈膝；唯命是从
  If you say that someonekowtows tosomeone else, you are criticizing them because they are too eager to obey or be polite to someone in authority.
  1. See how stupidly they kow-tow to persons higher in the hierarchy.
     瞧他们对上级唯命是从的样子是多么愚蠢啊。

英英释义

noun

• a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission
  Synonym:kotow

verb

• try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
  1. He is always kowtowing to his boss
  Synonym:fawntoadytrucklebootlickkotowsuck up
• bend the knees and bow in a servile manner
  Synonym:scrapegenuflect

双语例句

• Have you seen the people when they make a long kowtow? Their faces and hands are all dirty, but their hearts are clean.
  见过磕长头的人吗？他们的脸和手都很脏，可是心灵却很干净。
• Slowly, Grandmother Chen raised her head and looked around, whereupon the "acolyte" tugged at Xiangzi to make him kowtow.
  慢慢的，陈二奶奶抬起头来，点着头看了看大家；童儿扯了扯祥子，教他赶紧磕头。
• Maria: That is to say, those who are more liberal regard Kowtow as feudal.
  也就是说，那些更开放的父母认为磕头是封建的。
• We're not going to kowtow to each other.
  我们也不会对谁卑躬屈膝。
• They are there to govern, not to kowtow to vested interests.
  他们的职责是管治，而不是向既得利益屈服。
• Tomorrow I'll have Papa make you kneel three times and kowtow nine times before photographs of my grandparents as a penalty.
  明天我教爸爸罚你对祖父祖母的照片三跪九叩首。
• According to the local custom, he had to kowtow three times.
  按照乡俗，他得叩三个头。
• He need not and must not kowtow.
  但他不必也不应该卑躬屈膝。
• He could not kneel and kowtow to the emperor since that would reveal the emperor's identity so he bent his fingers to knock on the table to express his gratitude and respect to the emperor.
  由于这会暴露皇帝的身份，因此他不能跪下来向皇帝叩头，于是他弯起手指在桌上敲了几个，以表示自己对皇帝的谢意和敬意。
• Fourth Master Liu was gratified by the number of people who came to kowtow and congratulate him, and his elation increased with the arrival of many old friends to wish him a happy birthday.
  刘四爷很满意有这么多人来给他磕头祝寿。更足以自傲的是许多老朋友也赶着来贺喜。