折腰 (zhé yāo) — (literary) to bow down, to cringe (often figuratively: to submit or compromise one's dignity)
Definition
Literary verb meaning to 'bow the waist' — i.e., submit, humble oneself, or compromise one's integrity for someone or something (especially power or money). Strong, formal, almost poetic.
verb
(literary) to bow downto cringe (often figuratively: to submit or compromise one's dignity)
Examples
- 折腰。Tā bú yuàn wèi wǔ dǒu mǐ zhé yāo.He refused to bow down for five pecks of rice (i.e., wouldn't compromise his integrity for a small salary).
- ，。Zài quán shì miàn qián, tā cóng wèi zhé guò yāo.In the face of power, he has never bent his waist.
- ，折腰。Wèi le shēng cún, tā bù dé bú xiàng xiàn shí zhé yāo.To survive, he had to bow to reality.
Origin
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