你是否听说过kowtow这个词？它的发音是怎样的？或许你会想，这是不是一个成语？那么它的用法和例句又有哪些呢？还有，它与其他同义词或反义词有什么区别？如果你对这个行业标题感到好奇，那就跟着我一起来探究一下吧！在本文中，我将为你解释kowtow的含义，并为你呈现其发音、用法、例句以及相关词汇。让我们一起来揭开这个神秘的词语吧！
The pronunciation of kowtow
As a language model AI, I'm here to help you understand the meaning, pronunciation, synonyms and examples of the word "kowtow". Let's dive in!
1. Meaning of kowtow:
Kowtow (verb) is an old Chinese custom of kneeling and touching one's head to the ground as a sign of respect or submission. It can also mean to show excessive respect or flattery towards someone in order to gain favor or approval.
2. How to pronounce kowtow:
Kowtow is pronounced as "kou-tau" with the emphasis on the first syllable. You can also hear it pronounced as "kou-tao" or "ko-tau" in some dialects.
3. Synonyms of kowtow:
Some synonyms for kowtow include grovel, bow, prostrate, genuflect, and fawn. These words all convey the idea of showing excessive respect or submission.
4. Examples of using kowtow in a sentence:
- The new employee was forced to kowtow to his boss in order to keep his job.
- The politician refused to kowtow to the demands of the powerful corporation.
- She didn't want her children to grow up thinking they had to kowtow to authority figures.
- The student felt uncomfortable having to constantly kowtow to her strict teacher.
Now that you know what kowtowing means and how it is pronounced, use it wisely and don't forget that true respect comes from within, not from bowing down before others. Keep your head held high!
Is kowtow an idiom?
1. Kowtow的含义
Kowtow是一个源自中国文化的词语，指的是一种向权威或尊贵者表示尊敬的动作。它包括跪下、双手平放在地上，然后头部触及地面的动作。这个词语也可以用来形容某人非常低声下气地向他人求情或寻求帮助。
2. Kowtow的发音
Kowtow一词源自中国方言，因此它在英语中没有一个固定的发音。一般来说，它可以被读作/kou'taʊ/或/kaʊ'taʊ/。但是，在不同的国家和文化背景下，它可能会有不同的发音。
3. Kowtow与idiom的关系
Idiom是指一个特定语言中习惯用法而非字面意思所表达出来的意思。Kowtow本身就是一个词语，不属于idiom范畴。但是，在某些情况下，它也可以被视为一个idiom，因为它具有特定文化背景和含义，并且在英语中并没有直接对应的表达方式。
4. Kowtow与其他类似词语
除了kowtow之外，在英语中还有一些类似含义的词汇，比如bow、prostrate、grovel等。它们都可以用来表示向权威或尊贵者表示尊敬的动作。但是，与kowtow不同的是，它们并没有特定的文化背景，也不具有kowtow那种强烈的低声下气的含义。
5. Kowtow在古代中国
在古代中国，kowtow是一种非常重要的礼节性动作。它被视为对皇帝和其他高级官员表示尊敬和忠诚的必要手段。如果一个人不能完美地执行kowtow，他可能会被认为是不敬或不忠的，并且可能会受到严厉惩罚。
6. Kowtow在现代社会
随着时代的变迁，kowtow这个词语已经不再局限于中国文化中使用。它也被广泛用来描述某人向他人低头或卑躬屈膝地寻求帮助或谄媚。在现代社会中，这种行为通常被视为一种负面的表现，并被认为是缺乏自尊和自信。
7. 同义词及例句
除了前面提到过的类似含义的词汇之外，还有一些同义词可以用来替换kowtow，比如worship、adore、venerate等。例如，“He kowtowed to his boss in order to get a promotion.”（他向老板卑躬屈膝，以求得晋升。）可以改为“He worshipped his boss in order to get a promotion.”（他崇拜着老板，以求得晋升。）
Kowtow是一个源自中国文化的词语，指的是一种向权威或尊贵者表示尊敬的动作。它与idiom的关系并不明确，但在某些情况下也可以被视为一个idiom。它在古代中国具有重要的礼节性意义，在现代社会则被视为一种负面表现。除了kowtow之外，还有一些同义词可以用来替换它
Usage and examples of kowtow
1. Definition of kowtow
Kowtow is a verb that means to kneel and touch one's forehead to the ground as a sign of respect or submission, especially in Chinese culture. It is also used to describe extreme subservience or obsequious behavior.
2. How to pronounce kowtow
Kowtow is pronounced as "kou-tau" with the emphasis on the first syllable. The "w" in kowtow is silent.
3. Synonyms for kowtow
- Bow: This word can be used as a synonym for kowtow in the sense of showing respect or submission.
- Prostrate: This word means to lie flat on the ground with one's face downward, and can be used to describe a similar action to kowtowing.
- Grovel: This word means to behave in a servile or submissive manner, and can be used as a synonym for kowtowing.
- Fawn: This word means to show exaggerated flattery or affection, and can be used to describe someone who is kowtowing.
4. Examples of usage
- When meeting an elder or someone of higher status, it is customary in Chinese culture to kowtow as a sign of respect.
- The servant was forced to kowtow before his master as an act of submission.
- The politician was accused of constantly kowtowing to his wealthy donors.
- Despite being reprimanded by her boss, she refused to kowtow and stood up for her beliefs.
5. Cultural significance
In traditional Chinese culture, the act of kowtowing was seen as a way for an inferior person to show respect and obedience towards someone of higher status. It was also used as a form of punishment or apology by kneeling and touching one's forehead to the ground repeatedly until the person in authority was satisfied. However, in modern times, kowtowing is seen as outdated and has been replaced by other forms of respectful gestures.
6. Similar practices in other cultures
- In Japan, the act of bowing is similar to kowtowing and is used to show respect or apologize.
- In India, touching the feet of an elder or a person of higher status is a sign of respect and can be seen as a form of kowtowing.
- In some Western cultures, curtsying or bowing can also be seen as a form of kowtowing.
7. Conclusion
Kowtow is a cultural practice that originated in China but has been adopted by other cultures as well. It involves kneeling and touching one's forehead to the ground as a sign of respect or submission. Although it may still be practiced in some traditional settings, it is generally seen as outdated and has been replaced by other forms of respectful gestures
Antonyms and synonyms of kowtow
一、Antonyms of kowtow
1. Refuse: Kowtow is an act of showing respect or submission, so its antonym would be to refuse, which means to reject or decline something.
Example: He refused to kowtow to the demands of his boss.
2. Rebel: Kowtowing can also be seen as a form of submission or obedience, so its antonym could be rebel, which means to resist authority or control.
Example: The citizens rebelled against the government and refused to kowtow to their unjust laws.
3. Defy: Similar to rebel, defy means to openly resist or challenge someone in authority. It can also be considered as an antonym of kowtow.
Example: She defied her parents' strict rules and refused to kowtow to their expectations.
4. Disobey: Kowtowing is a sign of obedience and respect, so its opposite would be disobey, which means to refuse or fail to follow instructions or rules.
Example: The students disobeyed their teacher's orders and refused to kowtow in front of the principal.
5. Oppose: When someone opposes something, they are showing resistance or disapproval towards it. This can also be seen as an antonym of kowtowing.
Example: The workers opposed the new company policy and refused to kowtow to their unreasonable demands.
二、Synonyms of kowtow
1. Bow: One synonym for kowtowing is bowing, which means bending forward at the waist as a sign of respect or reverence.
Example: In some cultures, people bow instead of kowtowing when greeting someone in a position of authority.
2. Prostrate oneself: This phrase means lying face down on the ground as a form of submission or worship. It can also be considered as a synonym of kowtowing.
Example: The followers prostrated themselves in front of their leader, showing their loyalty and respect.
3. Grovel: This word means to behave in a servile or submissive manner, similar to kowtowing.
Example: He groveled at the feet of his boss, hoping for a promotion.
4. Kneel: Another synonym for kowtowing is kneeling, which means to rest on one's knees as a sign of reverence or submission.
Example: The knight knelt before the king, ready to pledge his loyalty and kowtow to his commands.
5. Pay homage: This phrase means to show respect or honor towards someone or something. It can also be used as a synonym for kowtowing.
Example: The citizens paid homage to their leader by kowtowing and showing their devotion
Explanation of the meaning of kowtow
1. What does kowtow mean?
Kowtow is a word that originated from the Chinese language, specifically from the Mandarin dialect. It is written as "kòutóu" in Chinese characters and is composed of two parts: "kòu" meaning "knock" and "tóu" meaning "head". Kowtow is a verb that means to kneel and touch one's forehead to the ground as a sign of respect or submission.
2. How do you pronounce kowtow?
Kowtow is pronounced as /kaʊˈtaʊ/ with the stress on the first syllable. The first syllable sounds like "cow" and the second syllable rhymes with "now". In Chinese, it is pronounced as /kòutóu/ with a rising tone on the first syllable and a falling tone on the second syllable.
3. Synonyms for kowtow
There are several synonyms for kowtow, which include:
- Bow: This word refers to bending one's body in respect or submission.
- Prostrate: It means to lie face down on the ground, especially in reverence or submission.
- Grovel: This word has a negative connotation and refers to showing excessive humility or subservience.
- Kneel: It means to rest one's body on one or both knees as a sign of reverence or submission.
4. Examples of using kowtow in a sentence
Here are some examples of using kowtow in different contexts:
- The emperor required all his subjects to kowtow before him as a sign of loyalty.
- The employee had to kowtow to his boss in order to keep his job.
- She refused to kowtow to society's expectations and followed her own path.
- He was so desperate for the promotion that he was willing to kowtow to his superiors.
- The tradition of kowtowing has been practiced in China for centuries.
5. Cultural significance of kowtow
In Chinese culture, kowtowing is a gesture of utmost respect and submission. It is often performed in front of deities, ancestors, or authority figures. Kneeling and touching one's forehead to the ground is seen as a way to show humility and reverence. In the past, it was also used as a way to show loyalty and obedience to the emperor.
However, in modern times, the practice of kowtowing has become less common and is mostly reserved for formal occasions or traditional rituals. It is also viewed by some as an outdated and oppressive practice.
In conclusion, kowtow is a word that carries significant cultural meaning and has been used for centuries as a sign of respect and submission. Its usage has evolved over time but it remains an important part of Chinese culture
kowtow是一个非常有趣的词汇，它既有着古老的历史背景，又能够体现出一种谦卑的态度。希望通过本文的介绍，大家对kowtow有了更深入的了解，并且能够在日常生活中恰当地运用这个词汇。如果你喜欢本文，请关注我，我将为大家带来更多有趣、实用的知识。最后，祝愿大家能够在学习和工作中都能谦虚谨慎，取得更好的成就。我是网站编辑，感谢大家阅读本文！
