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Kowtow in Chinese / Japanese...
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Kowtow - The deepest bow
叩頭 is the term that seems to be known worldwide as kowtow.
In Japanese and Chinese, it simply means a deep bow, especially one so low that one's head touches the ground in submission. However, in western culture, it has sometimes come to mean “giving in” or “surrendering to someone else's will.” Sometimes even said of a person who stoops to flattery at the expense of their dignity.
I don't know if you would really want this on a wall scroll, but enough people have searched for this term on our website that I guess it was time to add it. It just feels strange to see such a word on a wall scroll, so please order with caution. 叩頭 is antiquated in both Japanese and Chinese. The act is seldom done anymore and is seen as an ancient ritual.
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Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your kowtow search...
| Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
頓 顿 see styles |
dùn dun4 tun tomi; ton; toni とみ; とん; とに |
More info & calligraphy: Dayton(n,adj-nari) (1) (archaism) (See 頓に・とみに,頓と・とんと・1) sudden; abrupt; unexpected; (n,adj-nari) (2) (とん only) (archaism) stupid; foolish; (3) (とん only) {Buddh} attaining enlightenment in one effort (without ascetic practices, etc.); (surname) Tomi To fall headlong, prostrate; at one time, at once; suddenly; immediate; a pause; to stamp; make ready; used chiefly in contrast with 漸 gradually. |
叩頭 叩头 see styles |
kòu tóu kou4 tou2 k`ou t`ou kou tou koutou / koto こうとう |
More info & calligraphy: Kowtow - The deepest bow(n,vs,vi) kowtow (bow made from a kneeling position wherein the forehead touches the ground) |
叩 see styles |
kòu kou4 k`ou kou tataki たたき |
to knock; to kowtow (surname) Tataki |
交拜 see styles |
jiāo bài jiao1 bai4 chiao pai |
to bow to one another; to kneel and kowtow to one another; formal kowtow as part of traditional wedding ceremony |
叩拜 see styles |
kòu bài kou4 bai4 k`ou pai kou pai |
to bow in salute; to kowtow |
叩見 叩见 see styles |
kòu jiàn kou4 jian4 k`ou chien kou chien |
to kowtow in salute |
叩首 see styles |
kòu shǒu kou4 shou3 k`ou shou kou shou koushu / koshu こうしゅ |
to kowtow; also written 磕頭|磕头[ke1 tou2] (See 叩頭) kowtow |
磕頭 磕头 see styles |
kē tóu ke1 tou2 k`o t`ou ko tou |
to kowtow (traditional greeting, esp. to a superior, involving kneeling and pressing one's forehead to the ground) |
稽顙 稽颡 see styles |
qǐ sǎng qi3 sang3 ch`i sang chi sang |
to kowtow (touch the forehead to the floor) |
跪叩 see styles |
guì kòu gui4 kou4 kuei k`ou kuei kou |
to kowtow |
跪拜 see styles |
guì bài gui4 bai4 kuei pai kihai |
to kowtow; to kneel and worship To kneel and worship, or pay respect. |
響頭 响头 see styles |
xiǎng tóu xiang3 tou2 hsiang t`ou hsiang tou |
to bump one's head; to kowtow with head-banging on the ground |
頓首 顿首 see styles |
dùn shǒu dun4 shou3 tun shou tonshu; tonju とんしゅ; とんじゅ |
kowtow (1) (honorific or respectful language) (formula at the end of a letter) respectfully yours; (noun/participle) (2) (orig. meaning) kowtowing; kowtow prostrating by touching one's head to the ground |
叩頭く see styles |
nukatsuku ぬかづく nukazuku ぬかつく |
(v5k,vi) to kowtow (to bow from a kneeling position such that the forehead touches the ground); to prostrate oneself; to give a deep, reverent bow |
額ずく see styles |
nukazuku ぬかずく |
(v5k,vi) to kowtow (to bow from a kneeling position such that the forehead touches the ground); to prostrate oneself; to give a deep, reverent bow |
額づく see styles |
nukazuku ぬかづく |
(v5k,vi) to kowtow (to bow from a kneeling position such that the forehead touches the ground); to prostrate oneself; to give a deep, reverent bow |
額突く see styles |
nukatsuku ぬかづく nukazuku ぬかつく |
(v5k,vi) to kowtow (to bow from a kneeling position such that the forehead touches the ground); to prostrate oneself; to give a deep, reverent bow |
額衝く see styles |
nukatsuku ぬかづく nukazuku ぬかつく |
(v5k,vi) to kowtow (to bow from a kneeling position such that the forehead touches the ground); to prostrate oneself; to give a deep, reverent bow |
三跪九叩 see styles |
sān guì jiǔ kòu san1 gui4 jiu3 kou4 san kuei chiu k`ou san kuei chiu kou |
to kneel three times and kowtow nine times (formal etiquette on meeting the emperor) |
磕頭如搗蒜 磕头如捣蒜 see styles |
kè tóu rú dǎo suàn ke4 tou2 ru2 dao3 suan4 k`o t`ou ju tao suan ko tou ju tao suan |
lit. to kowtow like grinding garlic (idiom); fig. to pound the ground with one's head |
Variations: |
nukazuku(額zuku, 額突ku, 叩頭ku, 額衝ku); nukazuku(額zuku, 額突ku, 叩頭ku, 額衝ku); nukatsuku(額突ku, 叩頭ku, 額衝ku)(ok) ぬかずく(額ずく, 額突く, 叩頭く, 額衝く); ぬかづく(額づく, 額突く, 叩頭く, 額衝く); ぬかつく(額突く, 叩頭く, 額衝く)(ok) |
(v5k,vi) to kowtow (to bow from a kneeling position such that the forehead touches the ground); to prostrate oneself; to give a deep, reverent bow |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
| Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
| Kowtow - The deepest bow | 叩頭 叩头 | koutou / koto | kòu tóu / kou4 tou2 / kou tou / koutou | k`ou t`ou / koutou / kou tou |
| In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. | ||||
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