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Kowtowing: meaning, definitions and examples

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kowtowing

 

[ ˌkaʊˈtaʊɪŋ ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

formal

To act in an excessively subservient manner; to show excessive respect or deference, often to an authority figure.

Synonyms

bow and scrape, fawn, grovel

Examples of usage

  • He was kowtowing to his boss in order to get a promotion.
  • The journalist refused to kowtow to the government's demands for biased reporting.
Context #2 | Noun

historical

A former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission.

Synonyms

obeisance, prostration

Examples of usage

  • The act of kowtowing was a common practice in the imperial court.

Translations

Translations of the word "kowtowing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reverência

🇮🇳 नमन

🇩🇪 Katzbuckeln

🇮🇩 menunduk

🇺🇦 поклони

🇵🇱 kłanianie się

🇯🇵 土下座 (dogeza)

🇫🇷 révérence

🇪🇸 reverencia

🇹🇷 itaat

🇰🇷 절 (jeol)

🇸🇦 انحناء

🇨🇿 klanění

🇸🇰 klaňanie sa

🇨🇳 叩头 (kòutóu)

🇸🇮 priklanjanje

🇮🇸 kúgun

🇰🇿 тағзым ету

🇬🇪 მორჩილება

🇦🇿 təzim etmək

🇲🇽 reverencia

Word origin

The word 'kowtow' originated from the Chinese term 'kòutóu', which literally means 'knock the head'. It was a ritualistic gesture of deep respect and submission in Chinese culture, often performed in the presence of the emperor or other high-ranking officials. The practice of kowtowing was eventually phased out in China, but the term has been adopted into the English language to describe a display of extreme deference or servility.

See also: kowtow.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,274, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.