Chinese word

下跪

Pronunciation

Pinyinxià guì

Meaning

  • verbkneel

Example

她为自己的错误当众下跪。tā wèi zì jǐ de cuò wù dāng zhòng xià guì

She knelt in public to apologize for her mistake.

Illustration for 下跪 (kneel)

More examples

他单膝下跪向她求婚。tā dān xī xià guì xiàng tā qiú hūn

He knelt on one knee to propose to her.

Core concept

A deliberate lowering of the body onto one or both knees to make pleading, apology, or respect visible.

Common phrases

  • 下跪道歉xià guì dào qiàn

    kneel to apologize

  • 单膝下跪dān xī xià guì

    kneel on one knee

Similar words

跪下guì xià: Lowering the body onto one or both knees.
道歉dào qiàn: Admitting a mistake and expressing an apology.
磕头kē tóu: Repeatedly touching the forehead to the ground to show deep apology or submission.

Definition in Chinese

用一只或双膝着地，表示请求、道歉或表示恭敬的动作yòng yì zhī huò shuāng xī zhe dì biǎo shì qǐng qiú dào qiàn huò biǎo shì gōng jìng de dòng zuò

Word origin

下 (xià, "down") + 跪 (guì, "kneel") describes the downward movement and the bent-knee posture that define the compound.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this action usually signals a serious apology or plea, so ordinary apologies use spoken words instead.

Other meanings

  • drop to one's kneesverb

Opposites

  • 起立qǐ lìstandverb

Word lists with this word