1. to act in an obsequious manner; show servile deference. 2. to touch the forehead to the ground while kneeling, as an act of worship, respect, etc., esp. in former Chinese custom. n. 3. the act of kowtowing. kow′tow′er, n.
What is cowtowing?
Get the cowtowing neck gaiter and mug. It is the improper spelling / word for Kowtowing, which means to touch the forehead to the ground while kneeling, as an act of worship, reverence, apology, etc., especially in former Chinese custom. AKA: to kiss someone's ass or to be submissive. Her boyfriend is a jerk.
What is kowtow in Chinese?
kow•tow (ˈkaʊˈtaʊ, -ˌtaʊ, ˈkoʊ-) v.i. 1. to act in an obsequious manner; show servile deference. 2. to touch the forehead to the ground while kneeling, as an act of worship, respect, etc., esp. in former Chinese custom.
What is the meaning of Kotow?
kotow bowing, obeisance, bow- bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting Verb
What is a synonym for kowtowing?
Synonyms for kowtowing. apple-polishing, bootlicking, fawning, fussing, sucking (up), toadying, truckling.
Is it kowtow or cow down?
You can tow a cow to water, but you can't make it drink. But the word that means bowing worshipfully before someone comes from the Chinese words for knocking one's head on the ground, and is spelled kowtow.
Where did the phrase kowtow come from?
Kowtow is derived from the Chinese word k'o-t'ou, which literally means “knock the head.” As a verb, kowtow has the sense of “sucking up” or "flattering." Maybe you're wondering when it would be appropriate to kowtow.
Can you say kowtow?
The word is pronounced 'cow-TOW' with the stress on the second syllable. It is mostly used to show disapproval. When you 'kowtow' to someone in authority, you do everything you can to please him.
What is a kowtow used for?
In Sinospheric culture, the kowtow is the highest sign of reverence. It was widely used to show reverence for one's elders, superiors, and especially the Emperor of China, as well as for religious and cultural objects of worship. In modern times, usage of the kowtow has been reduced.
Is kowtow ethical?
Kowtow garments are certified by non-profit internationally recognised organisations. Independent audits and accreditation bodies ensure we remain true to our values. We support fair wages, no child labor, gender equality & grower community.
What does a kowtow look like?
0:286:25Chinese Custom: how to KOWTOW ♂️ ♀️ how to BOW - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe word kowtow is borrowed from the Cantonese term Tao Tao and it translates to knock in the headMoreThe word kowtow is borrowed from the Cantonese term Tao Tao and it translates to knock in the head on the floor. Yes in China people say on the floor is sort of chairs.
What does it mean to cow toe?
1 : to show obsequious deference : fawn kowtows to the boss. 2 : to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in token of homage, worship, or deep respect.
Is kowtow Japanese?
The term is used in Japanese politics such as "dogeza-gaikō" (土下座外交) which is translated to "kowtow diplomacy" or "kowtow foreign policy". In general, dogeza is translated into English as "prostration" or "kowtow".
How do you use kowtow in a sentence?
Kowtow in a Sentence 🔉The dictator beheaded the man who refused to kowtow to him by kissing his feet.If Jason does not kowtow to the boss, he will never get a promotion at work.My chauvinistic husband divorced me because I would not kowtow to his every whim.More items...
How was the kowtow performed?
kowtow, also spelled kotow, Chinese (Pinyin) keitou or (Wade-Giles romanization) k'o-t'ou, in traditional China, the act of supplication made by an inferior to his superior by kneeling and knocking his head to the floor.
How do you pronounce kow tow?
Kowtow is pronounced "Ko - Toe" as opposed to "Cow - Tow". What does Kowtow mean? Kowtow is a Chinese word that represents the custom of deep respect, shown by kneeling and bowing so low that your forehead touches the ground.
What does "kowtow" mean?
kowtow. ( ˌkaʊˈtaʊ) vb ( intr) 1. to touch the forehead to the ground as a sign of deference: a former Chinese custom. 2. ( often foll by to) to be servile or obsequious (towards) n. the act of kowtowing.
What does "kneeling" mean in Chinese?
1. to act in an obsequious manner; show servile deference. 2. to touch the forehead to the ground while kneeling, as an act of worship, respect, etc., esp. in former Chinese custom. n. 3. the act of kowtowing. [1795–1805; < Chinese kòutóu literally, knock (one's) head]
What does "kowtow" mean?
kowtow. ( ˌkaʊˈtaʊ) vb ( intr) 1. to touch the forehead to the ground as a sign of deference: a former Chinese custom. 2. ( often foll by to) to be servile or obsequious (towards) n. the act of kowtowing.
What does "kneeling" mean in Chinese?
1. to act in an obsequious manner; show servile deference. 2. to touch the forehead to the ground while kneeling, as an act of worship, respect, etc., esp. in former Chinese custom. n. 3. the act of kowtowing. [1795–1805; < Chinese kòutóu literally, knock (one's) head]
What is a kowtow in a sentence?
Examples of kowtow in a Sentence. Verb you can try kowtowing to the boss, but he'll see right through you. Recent Examples on the Web: Verb And she was indeed defined by a steely independent streak that did not kowtow to outsiders, whether established civil rights figures or the leader of the free world.
What is the meaning of "kowtow"?
Kowtow originated as a noun referring to the act of kneeling and touching one's head to the ground as a salute or act of worship to a revered authority. In traditional China this ritual was performed by commoners making requests to the local magistrate, by the emperor to the shrine of Confucius, or by foreign representatives appearing before ...
What does "kowtow" mean for kids?
Kids Definition of kowtow. : to obey a person in a position of power in a way that seems weak : show overly respectful attention "And don't expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father.". — Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief.
Where did the word "kowtow" come from?
The word kowtow derives from Chinese "koutou," formed by combining the verb "kou" ("to knock") with the noun "tou" ("head"). The noun had arrived in English by 1804, and the earliest evidence for the verb dates from 1826.
What is the meaning of "kowtow"?
Kowtow, also spelled kotow, Chinese (Pinyin) keitou or (Wade-Giles romanization) k’o-t’ou, in traditional China, the act of supplication made by an inferior to his superior by kneeling and knocking his head to the floor.
What was the significance of the kowtow before the Emperor?
To representatives of foreign countries seeking trade and relations with China, performance of the kowtow before the emperor signified their countries’ acknowledgement of the Chinese emperor as the “son of heaven” ( tianzi) and of China as the Central Kingdom (Zhongguo) in the world. As such, performance of the kowtow was increasingly resisted by ...
Which envoy refused to kowtow to the Chinese emperor?
Perhaps the most famous instance of Western nonconformity to the ceremony occurred during the mission of the British envoy Lord Macartney to the court of the Chinese emperor in 1793. Macartney refused to kowtow and went down on only one knee, as he would before the British ruler.
When did the Qing Dynasty fall?
With the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911/12, it fell into disuse in official ceremony but remained in civil life for some time, especially in rural areas and in some traditional performing arts circles. This article was most recently revised and updated by Zhihou Xia.
What is the practice of kowtow?
Prostration is a general practice in Buddhism, and not restricted to China. The kowtow is often performed in groups of three before Buddhist statues and images or tombs of the dead. In Buddhism it is more commonly termed either "worship with the crown (of the head)" (頂禮 ding li) or "casting the five limbs to the earth" (五體投地 wuti tou di)—referring to the two arms, two legs and forehead. For example, in certain ceremonies, a person would perform a sequence of three sets of three kowtows—stand up and kneel down again between each set—as an extreme gesture of respect; hence the term three kneelings and nine head knockings ( 三跪九叩之禮 [ zh] ). Also, some Buddhist pilgrims would kowtow once for every three steps made during their long journeys, the number three referring to the Triple Gem of Buddhism, the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Prostration is widely practiced in India by Hindus to give utmost respect to their deities in temples and to parents and elders. Nowadays in modern times people show the regards to elders by bowing down and touching their feet.
What is the kowtow ceremony?
In the most solemn of ceremonies, for example at the coronation of a new Emperor, the Emperor's subjects would undertake the ceremony of the "three kneelings and nine kowtows", the so-called grand kowtow, which involves kneeling from a standing position three times, and each time, performing the kowtow three times while kneeling. Immanuel Hsu describes the "full kowtow" as "three kneelings and nine knockings of the head on the ground".
What does "ke" mean in Chinese?
An alternative Chinese term is ketou; however, the meaning is somewhat altered: kou ( 叩) has the general meaning of knock, whereas ke ( 磕) has the general meaning of "touch upon (a surface)", tou ( 頭) meaning head . The date of this custom's origin is probably sometime between the Spring and Autumn period, or the Warring States period of China's history because it was a custom by the time of the Qin dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC).
What is the act of deep respect shown by prostration?
For the village in Burkina Faso, see Kotou, Burkina Faso. Kowtow, which is borrowed from kau tau in Cantonese Chinese ( koutou in Mandarin), is the act of deep respect shown by prostration, that is, kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground.
Why is bowing important?
Because the body is placed in a low position in the kowtow, the idea is that one will naturally convert to his or her mind a feeling of respect. What one does to oneself influences the mind. Confucian philosophy held that respect was important for a society, making bowing an important ritual.
When did the word "kowtow" come into use?
The word "kowtow" came into English in the early 19th century to describe the bow itself, but its meaning soon shifted to describe any abject submission or groveling. The term is still commonly used in English with this meaning, disconnected from the physical act and the East Asian context.
Is the kowtow still used?
The kowtow, and other traditional forms of reverence, were much maligned after the May Fourth Movement. Today , only vestiges of the traditional usage of the kowtow remain. In many situations, the standing bow has replaced the kowtow.