Meaning of the word kowtow in English
What does kowtow mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.
kowtow
US /ˌkaʊˈtaʊ/
UK /ˌkaʊˈtaʊ/
Verb
1.
to show respect by going down into a position where your knees are on the floor and then bending your body forward so that your head touches the ground, in a way used especially in the past in China :
Example:
•
As part of the wedding ceremony, we kowtowed to my parents and to my fiancé's parents.
Noun
1.
the action of going down into a position where your knees are on the floor and then bending your body forward so that your head touches the ground, used to show respect especially in the past in China :
Example:
•
Kowtows were made to the images of the ancestors.
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