TongTong
Sign in

屈从 (qū cōng) — to submit, to yield to

Definition

屈从 (qūcóng) means 'to yield / submit' under pressure, with a negative sense of giving up one's own position. Often appears as 屈从于 + noun (pressure, demand).

verb
to submitto yield to

Examples

  • 屈从。
    Tā zuì zhōng qū cōng le duì fāng de yā lì.
    He eventually yielded to the other side's pressure.
  • 屈从。
    Tā bú yuàn yì qū cōng bù hé lǐ de ān pái.
    She is unwilling to submit to unreasonable arrangements.
  • ，屈从。
    Zài yuán zé wèn tí shàng, wǒ men bù néng qū cōng.
    On matters of principle, we cannot yield.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

屈qūbend/yield
从cóngfollow/submit

屈 and 从 both express bending or following, so the word means to yield or submit.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
尾尾wěitail
Sound part声符shēngfú
出
出chū屈qū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

屈 was built from 出 for sound and 尾 for tail; the tail part later changed into the top of 屈.

Open 屈 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 從; 从 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
从
从cóng從cóng
Same sound today

The traditional form 從 pairs 辵 (walk) with 从, which gives the sound; the character was originally written 从.

Open 从 →
Appears in
Conflict & Agreement

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.