三跪九叩

sānguì-jiǔkòu

idiom

Meanings

1 three kneelings and nine kowtows
2 to perform the full kowtow

Characters

to knock the head on the ground

Examples

HSK 7-9

在清朝，大臣见皇帝要行三跪九叩的大礼。

Zài Qīngcháo, dàchén jiàn huángdì yào xíng sānguì-jiǔkòu de dàlǐ.

In the Qing dynasty, ministers meeting the emperor had to perform the full ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows.

HSK 7-9

乾隆年间，英国使臣马噶尔尼拒绝向皇帝三跪九叩。

Qiánlóng niánjiān, Yīngguó shǐchén Mǎgá'ěrní jùjué xiàng huángdì sānguì-jiǔkòu.

In the Qianlong era, the British envoy Macartney refused to perform the full kowtow before the emperor.

Tips

culture

Kneel and knock the head to the ground three times, rise, and do it twice more: nine kowtows in all. It was the highest courtesy of the Qing court, also made to Heaven and to ancestors, and was abolished after 1911. Also called 三拜九叩.

Stroke Order

三 sān

跪 guì

九 jiǔ

叩 kòu