磕头

磕頭

kētóu

verb #43,919

Meanings

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

Characters

to knock / to bump

Examples

HSK 6

过年给爷爷奶奶磕头拜年。

Guònián gěi yéye nǎinai kētóu bàinián.

At Lunar New Year we kowtow to grandpa and grandma to wish them a happy new year.

HSK 7-9

古人见了皇帝要磕头行礼。

Gǔrén jiàn le huángdì yào kētóu xínglǐ.

In ancient times people had to kowtow upon meeting the emperor.

Tips

culture

The English word 'kowtow' is a direct loan from 磕头. The full court ritual was 三跪九叩 (three kneelings, nine kowtows). Today the practice survives mainly at Lunar New Year (to elders), weddings (to parents), funerals, and in some martial-arts 拜师 initiation ceremonies.

Stroke Order

磕 kē

头 tóu