屈膝 (qūxī): to bend the knee

Meanings

1 to bend the knee
2 to kneel
3 to submit; to yield

Characters

屈

Examples

他绝不向敌人屈膝。

Tā jué bù xiàng dírén qūxī.

He would never kneel before the enemy.

Tips

usage

屈膝 is often used figuratively to mean 'to submit' or 'to surrender one's dignity.' The related idiom 卑躬屈膝 (bēigōngqūxī) means 'to bow and scrape; to be servile.'

Stroke Order

屈 qū

膝 xī

Related Words

屈 qū #9,787

to bend / to yield / to submit / injustice; wrong

屈服 qūfú HSK 7 #6,460

to yield / to submit / to give in

膝盖 xīgài HSK 7 #3,189

knee pad / knee brace / knee guard

屈从 qūcóng #22,435

to submit / to yield / to bow to someone's will / to capitulate under pressure

不屈 bùqū #12,911

unyielding; unbending; indomitable

膝下 xīxià #25,925

at one's knee (referring to one's children) / (salutation) under the care of (used in letters to parents/grandparents)

委屈 wěiqu HSK 7 #15,876

to feel wronged / to be treated unfairly / grievance

屈辱 qūrǔ #20,395

humiliation / disgrace / indignity