kotow

/'kau'tau/ Cách viết khác : (kotow) /'kau'tau/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition

  1. Verb:

    • To kneel and touch the forehead to the ground as a sign of deep respect, submission, or worship, especially in historical Chinese custom.
    • To act in an obsequious, servile, or excessively flattering manner towards someone in order to gain favor.

  2. Noun:

    • The act of kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground as a formal gesture of respect or submission.
    • (Figuratively) Obsequious or servile behavior.
Usage

  • As a Verb:

    • The historical meaning describes a formal, physical act of prostration.
    • The modern, figurative meaning describes a psychological or behavioral act of extreme subservience.
    • It is often used critically to describe someone who sacrifices their dignity or principles to please an authority figure.

  • As a Noun:

    • The noun form is less common than the verb form in modern usage.
    • It refers to the act itself, either the physical gesture or the figurative behavior.
Examples

  • Verb:

    • In imperial China, foreign ambassadors were sometimes required to kotow before the Emperor.
    • He refuses to kotow to corporate pressure and always speaks his mind.
    • She is always kotowing to her professor, hoping for a better grade.

  • Noun:

    • The ceremony involved three full kotows.
    • His constant kotow to management made him unpopular with his colleagues.
Advanced Usage
  • "To kotow to someone/something": This is the standard prepositional phrase used with the verb. It indicates the target of the obsequious behavior.
    • Politicians should not kotow to special interest groups.
  • The word carries a strong negative connotation when used in its figurative sense, implying a lack of integrity or independence.
Variants and Related Words
  • Kowtow: This is the more common modern spelling of the word. "Kotow" is an older variant. Both have identical meanings and pronunciations (/ˈkaʊ.taʊ/).
  • Prostration (n): The act of lying stretched out on the ground face down, often in reverence or submission. This is a more general term.
  • Obsequiousness (n): The quality of being obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree. This is a close synonym for the figurative meaning.
Synonyms
  • Verb (Figurative): Fawn, grovel, toady, bootlick, suck up (informal), flatter servilely.
  • Noun (Act): Prostration, bow, homage (though homage is more respectful and less servile).
Phrasal Verbs / Common Collocations
  • Kotow to: This is the essential and almost exclusive collocation for the verb.
    • The dictator expected everyone to kotow to his every whim.
Related Idioms
  • While "kotow" itself is not typically part of a larger English idiom, the concept is related to expressions like:
    • "Bow and scrape": To behave in a servile or obsequious way.
    • "Kiss someone's feet": To show extreme admiration or subservience.
Noun
  1. a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission
Verb
  1. try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
    • He is always kowtowing to his boss

Từ đồng nghĩa

Từ gần giống