拱手 (gǒng shǒu) — (verb-object) to make a traditional Chinese gesture of respect by cupping one hand in the other in front of the chest; (figurative) to yield submissively; to give up without a fight

Definition

Examples

• 他向老师拱了拱手，表示感谢。
  Tā xiàng lǎo shī gǒng le gǒng shǒu, biǎo shì gǎn xiè.
  He cupped his hands to the teacher to express thanks.
• 在武术表演开始前，选手们互相拱手致意。
  Zài wǔ shù biǎo yǎn kāi shǐ qián, xuǎn shǒu men hù xiāng gǒng shǒu zhì yì.
  Before the martial arts performance began, the competitors greeted each other with cupped hands.
• 他拱手把机会让给了别人。
  Tā gǒng shǒu bǎ jī huì ràng gěi le bié rén.
  He submissively gave the opportunity to someone else.

Origin