叩首

kòushǒu

verb #58,744

Meanings

1 to kowtow
2 to kneel and touch one's forehead to the ground

Characters

to knock (the head on the ground)

Examples

HSK 6

他跪下向父母叩首。

Tā guìxià xiàng fùmǔ kòushǒu.

He knelt down and kowtowed to his parents.

HSK 7-9

他在祖先的墓前恭恭敬敬地叩首。

Tā zài zǔxiān de mù qián gōnggōngjìngjìng de kòushǒu.

He kowtowed respectfully before his ancestors' grave.

Tips

register

叩首 is the formal, written word. In speech people say 磕头. The English word "kowtow" comes from the near-synonym 叩头, "to knock the head".

Stroke Order

叩 kòu

首 shǒu