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

• When the head of the giant software corporation refused to kowtow to the swami, he was promptly transformed into a little bug.
  当这个软件巨头公司的老板拒绝象神像叩首时，他马上被变作了一只小虫子。
• According to the local custom, he had to kowtow three times.
  按照乡俗，他得叩三个头。
• I'm not going to kowtow to a mere nobody like him.
  我不想给他这样的无名小卒磕头。
• 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。
• 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。
• During the long journey, they wore wooden kneepad to protect their knees, kowtow every three steps until them arrived in Lhasa.
  在漫长的旅途中，他们带着木制的护膝，就这样三步一叩地来到他们心中的圣地。
• From sneakers to skin cream, Chinese consumer goods companies are no longer willing to kowtow to the foreigners who taught them branding.
  从运动鞋到护肤霜，中国消费品公司不再愿意向教会了自己品牌概念的外资企业低头。
• Can you imagine that I was give her a kowtow to beg her to spare me?
  你能想象吗？我跪下给她磕头乞求她放过我？
• 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。
• 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。