跪倒 (guì dǎo) — to fall to one's knees; to kneel down; to grovel; to prostrate oneself (figurative)

Definition

A vivid verb meaning to fall or throw oneself to one's knees, often in supplication or submission. The literal sense (kneel down) contrasts with the figurative one (grovel, prostrate oneself before someone in power).

verb
to fall to one's kneesto kneel downto grovelto prostrate oneself (figurative)

Examples

  • 跪倒。
    Tā guì dǎo zài fó xiàng qián.
    He knelt down before the Buddha statue.
  • 跪倒。
    Tā guì dǎo zài lǎo bǎn miàn qián qiú qíng.
    He groveled before the boss pleading for mercy.
  • 。
    Tā guì bù dǎo.
    He cannot kneel down.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

跪guìkneel
倒dǎofall down

跪 means kneel and 倒 adds falling down, together meaning to kneel down.

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
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
危
危wēi跪guì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

跪 pairs 足 (foot) with 危, whose shape can be seen as a person kneeling on the ground.

Open 跪 →

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
到
到dào倒dào
Same sound today

倒 combines 亻 (person) with 到, which gives the sound.

Open 倒 →

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