BOW DOWN    鞠躬

GREET so as to BEND one's BODY DOWN as a POLITE GESTURE.
INCLINE THE BODYINCLINE THE HEADNODSALAAMKOWTOWCURTSYBOBGENUFLECT
Old Chinese Criteria
1. The general word for all kinds of bowing recognised as ritually correct is bài 拜, which involves kneeling on the ground, moving one's head against one's hands joined in the obligatory Confucian manner, and bowing one's torso forward, and this word is often rich in further semantic nuances. It is important to realise that even newly appointed kings bowed in the bài 拜 fashion. By Han times, this kind of bowing often was accompanied by one's pronouncing one's personal name. Standardly, one 再拜 "bowed twice" in ancient China. [GENERAL]; [[COMMON+]] 2. Qǐ 稽 and mostly qǐ shǒu 稽首 refers to the profoundest bow which involves hitting the ground with one's forehead and remaining in that position. [ASCENDING++], [ELEVATED], [FORMAL] 3. Dùn shǒu 頓首 involves knocking the ground and lifting one's head again, thus being not quite as extreme as qǐ shǒu 稽首. [ASCENDING+], [ELEVATED], [FORMAL] 4. Yī 揖 refers to a polite bow with one's hands held against one's chest. [HORIZONTAL], [POLITE] 5. Gǒng 拱 refers to a polite bow where the hands, which are held together in the Confucian (and not the Buddhist) fashion, are removed some distance from the chest and shaken only mildly, or, as in the chuí gǒng 垂拱 variety, in front of one's stomach, typically as a sign of dignified and polite inactivity. [ELEVATED], [POLITE] 6. Fǔ 俯 / 俛 refers to a general deep bowing down from a predominantly physical point of view, without any particular emphasis on the semantics of the bowing, and the action does not involve kneeling or hitting the ground with one's forehead. [ELEVATED]; [[CURRENT]] 7. Yǔ 傴 is to bow deeply so as to reach a position like that of a hunchback, and to remain in that position for a considerable time. [ARCHAIC], [FORMAL]; [[RARE]] 8. Lóu 僂 is to bow slightly so as to reach a position like that of a mildly hunchbacked person, and to remain in that position for a considerable time. [ARCHAIC], [FORMAL]; [[RARE]] 9. Fú 伏 refers to the sustained polite bowing position in which, for example, polite deliberation by superiors had to be seen to proceed in the Han court, and this meaning has to be distinguished from the meaning "to crouch". [ASCENDING], [POLITE] 10. Shì 式 (often written 軾 ) refers to the polite ritual act of stopping one's cart and leaning politely over the railings of that cart to greet someone. [ARCHAIC], [ELEVATED], [FORMAL]
Modern Chinese Criteria
鞠躬 is the current modern word for bowing. 打躬 is an informal word for bowing politely. 折腰 (lit) is a formal way of referring to a bow. 哈腰 (coll) is a highly informal way of referring to bowing. 下拜 俯身 (lit) refers to a formal bow in traditionalist style. 唱喏 chàngrě (cl, obs) is an obsolete traditionalist way of referring to bowing. 打躬作揖 (prov) is a hyperbolic description of bowing and scraping on formal occasions. rough draft to BEGIN TO identify synonym group members for analysis, based on CL etc. 18.11.2003. CH ／
Hyponym
  • KNEEL　BOW DOWN AND SUPPORT ONESELF on the FLOOR USING one's KNEES. (anc: 17/0, child: 0)
  • KOWTOW　BOW DOWN and KNOCK one's HEAD against the FLOOR IN FRONT of someone so as to SHOW RESPECT. (anc: 17/0, child: 0)
See also
  • FAREWELLADDRESS someone to REPORT that one is FUTURE:about-to LEAVE, OFTEN:typically COMMUNICATING one's GOOD WISHES FOR him.
Hypernym
  • GREET　ADDRESS someone one is MEETING NOW COMMUNICATING one's GOOD WISHES FOR her/him. (anc: 15/0, child: 1)
  • ADDRESS　SPEAK OR WRITE INTENDING ANOTHER TO HEAR OR READ AND TO REACT to IT.  (anc: 14/0, child: 23)
  • WRITE　PRODUCE a DOCUMENT. (anc: 13/0, child: 4)
Other Hypernyms
  • GREETnew-d9d93cf6-782f-4867-993c-f6782f686779　ADDRESS someone one is MEETING NOW COMMUNICATING one's GOOD WISHES FOR her/him. (anc: 14/1, child: 1)
  • ADDRESSnew-b2b104ff-6112-4947-b104-ff611229470d　SPEAK OR WRITE INTENDING ANOTHER TO HEAR OR READ AND TO REACT to IT.  (anc: 13/0, child: 23)
  • SPEAK　ACT so as to USE WORDS FOR SHOWING MEANING.*Speech by speaker X, directed towards audience Y, in order to communicate message Z. (anc: 12/0, child: 32)
  • A Dictionary of Selected Synonyms in the Principal Indo-European Languages ( BUCK 1988) p. 9.14

  • Semantica del Griego Antiguo ( HERNANDEZ 2000) p.

  • 中國文化史三百題 ( SANBAITI 1987) p. 370

    • Words (30 items)

    禮拜  lǐ bài OC: riiʔ proods MC: lei pɣɛi 36 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPabactpolite greeting and bowing
    • VPiactBUDDH: make a ritual deep bow as sign of respect, bow, pay one's respects
    • VPt(oN)omBUDDH: make a ritual deep bow as sign of respect to, bow to, pay one's respects to (with a contextually determinate object)
    • VPtoNmake a ritual deep bow as sign of respect to, bow to, pay one's respects to
    拜  bài OC: proods MC: pɣɛi 34 Attributions

    The general word for all kinds of bowing recognised as ritually correct is bài 拜, which involves kneeling on the ground, moving one's head against one's hands joined in the obligatory Confucian manner, and bowing one's torso forward, and this word is often rich in further semantic nuances.

      Word relations
    • Epithet: 卑/HUMBLE The current general word for objective low social status without any connotation concerning moral worth is bēi 卑 (ant. zūn 尊 "objectively venerable by social standards").
    • Assoc: 送/FAREWELL Sòng 送 (ant. yíng 迎 "go out to welcome") refers standardly to following someone some symbolic part of his way, as a standard ritual of departure.

      Syntactic words
    • nabacta polite bow
    • vadVsometimes almost adverbially: with a bow; bowingly 拜送, 拜送，拜曰
    • vi.cactbow (thrice)
    • viactbow respectfully; bow as a sign of gratitude, admiration, congratulation, polite apology etc; makeobeisance
    • vt(oN)thank the contextually determinate N
    • vtoNN=humanbow to someone 相拜 "bow to each other"
    • vtoNN=nonhubow to something
    稽首  qǐ shǒu OC: khiiʔ qhljuʔ MC: khei ɕɨu 27 Attributions

    Qǐ 稽 and mostly qǐ shǒu 稽首 refers to the profoundest bow which involves hitting the ground with one's forehead and remaining in that position. [ASCENDING++], [ELEVATED], [FORMAL]

      Syntactic words
    • VPiactkneel and bow so as to knock the floor with one's head
    • VPtoNkneel and bow before
    再拜  zài bài OC: tsɯɯs proods MC: tsəi pɣɛi 25 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVwith a double deep bow to show one's polite gratitude (note that 再拜受之 could be taken as two verbs in series, but a lingering doubt remains, since 再拜 so often precedes main verbs, and is never modified by an adverb. 待考)
    • VPiactmake a double bow as a show of polite respect (often followed by a knocking of one's head on the ground)
    • VPt(oN)bow twice in the direction of the contextually determinate NCH
    • VPtoNmake a polite double bow addressed to (note that this could be parsed as "bowed to him twice", and this is quite probably the correct analysis.)
    俯  fǔ OC: poʔ MC: pi̯o 18 Attributions

    Fǔ 俯/俛 refers to a general deep bowing down from a predominantly physical point of view, without any particular emphasis on the semantics of the bowing, and the action does not involve kneeling or hitting the ground with one's forehead.

      Word relations
    • Assoc: 伏/BOW DOWN Fú 伏 refers to the sustained polite bowing position in which, for example, polite deliberation by superiors had to be seen to proceed in the Han court.

      Syntactic words
    • nabactsalutation with a bow
    • vadVlooking down; fig. in respect to the lower in position (children, wife etc.)
    • viactstoop down; bow down; bow the head 俯而泣, but also ZUO Zhao 7 一命而僂，再命而傴，三命而俯
    • vtoNbow (the head)
    • vtoN{PLACE}stoop down into
    頓首  dùn shǒu OC: tuuns qhljuʔ MC: tuo̝n ɕɨu 13 Attributions

    Dùn shǒu 頓首 involves knocking the ground and lifting one's head again, thus being not quite as extreme as qǐ shǒu 稽首. [ASCENDING+], [ELEVATED], [FORMAL]

      Syntactic words
    • VPadVknocking one's head on the floorCH
    • VPiactknock one's forehead on the ground and lift it again.
    • VPt+prep+Nbow one's head politely to touch NCH
    共  gǒng MC: -- OC: --
    拱  gǒng OC: koŋʔ MC: ki̯oŋ 10 Attributions

    Gǒng 拱 refers to the foldingof one's hands in front of one's chest or, as in the chuí gǒng 垂拱 variety in front of one's stomach, typically as a sign of dignified and polite inactivity.

      Syntactic words
    • vadVwith hands folded in a relaxed manner; hands down, effortlessly, without making any special effort;
    • viactfold hands respectfully in the Chinese fashion as a sign of respect; fold hands (and do nothing)
    • vtoNbow to
    揖  yī OC: qib MC: ʔip 10 Attributions

    Yī 揖 is a polite bow with one's hands held against one's chest.

      Word relations
    • Assoc: 讓/YIELD The dominant general word referring to yielding politely to others or giving precedence to them is ràng 讓 (ant. líng 陵 "treat without proper respect").

      Syntactic words
    • viactbow one's obeissance; give a salute with a ceremonious bow
    • vt+V[0]causativebow slightly as invitation for Ving (e.g. slightly lower one's head in a certain direction in order to signal that the addressee is supposed to sit down)
    • vtoNbow one's obeissance to (somebody)
    叩頭  kòu tóu OC: khooʔ doo MC: khu du 9 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPibow one's head to the ground
    • VPt+.VtoSbow down and sayDS
    伏  fú OC: bɯɡ MC: buk 9 Attributions

    Fú 伏 refers to the sustained polite bowing position in which, for example, polite deliberation by superiors had to be seen to proceed in the Han court.

      Word relations
    • Assoc: 俯/BOW DOWN Fǔ 俯/俛 refers to a general deep bowing down from a predominantly physical point of view, without any particular emphasis on the semantics of the bowing, and the action does not involve kneeling or hitting the ground with one's forehead.

      Syntactic words
    • vadVbowingly, with a deep sustained bow leaving one's head close to the ground, with without knocking the ground 伏惟 "consider a matter while bowing down"
    • viactremain in a bowing position, with the head against the ground
    • vtoNbend forward over; throw oneself down on (a lute, a sword in order to commit suicide)
    式  shì OC: lʰɯɡ MC: ɕɨk
    軾  shì OC: lʰɯɡ MC: ɕɨk 9 Attributions

    Shì 式 (often written 軾) refers to the polite ritual act of stopping one's cart and leaning politely over the railings of that cart to greet someone. [ARCHAIC], [ELEVATED], [FORMAL]

      Syntactic words
    • vt(oN)bow down to the contextually determinate person, by bowing over the cross beam on top of a carriage
    • vtoNgreet by bowing over the cross beam on top of a carriage one is riding in
    傴  yǔ OC: qoʔ MC: ʔi̯o 4 Attributions

    Yǔ 傴 is to bow deeply so as to reach a position like that of a hunchback, and to remain in that position for a considerable time.

      Syntactic words
    • viactbow deeply (so that one looks like a hunchback)
    僂  lóu OC: ɡ-roo MC: lu
    僂  lǚ OC: ɡ-roʔ MC: li̯o 4 Attributions

    Lóu 僂 is to bow slightly so as to reach a position like that of a mildly hunchbacked person, and to remain in that position for a considerable time.

      Syntactic words
    • viactbow slightly and politely (as when receiving an order from a superior)
    屈  qū OC: khlud MC: khi̯ut 4 Attributions

    Qū 屈 refers to something being bent or twisted and therefore not stretched out to its full potential length (ant. shēn 伸 "stretch out") is mostly literal in meaning, except when referring to being bowed down by humiliation.

      Word relations
    • Ant: 直/STRAIGHT The current general word for something concrete or abstract being straight in any abstract or concrete way is zhí 直 (ant. wān 彎 "bent")

      Syntactic words
    • vadNbent; crooked
    • vibe bent
    • vichangebow, bend down, be humiliated; contract; be bent
    • vtoNbow to
    拱揖  gǒng yī OC: koŋʔ qib MC: ki̯oŋ ʔip 4 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactbow politely (often: instead of making a concrete effort to help with work that is being done or needs to be done)
    撓  náo OC: mɢreewʔ MC: ɳɣɛu 4 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • viactbow down in order to show submissiveness
    • vtoNbow to, show submissiveness towards
    磬折  qìng zhé OC: kheeŋs kljed MC: kheŋ tɕiɛt 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactbow down to form the shape of a musical stone (as practised in Japan today...)
    低  dī OC: tiil MC: tei 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vichangesink lower
    • vtoNto lower (especially the head)
    俯  fǔ OC:  MC: pi̯o 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vadVbowing down (i.e. without reaching upwards)CH
    • vadVfigurativebowing down> on the one hand 俯。。。仰
    • viactnod; bow the head; lower the head
    • vtoNlower, bow down (one's head)
    傾倒  qīng dào OC: khʷleŋ k-laaws MC: khiɛŋ tɑu 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactbow deeply
    拜嘉  bài jiā OC: proods kraal MC: pɣɛi kɣɛ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNbow down and praise, pay homage to
    稽  qǐ OC: khiiʔ MC: khei 1 Attribution

    Qǐ 稽 and mostly qǐ shǒu 稽首 refers to the profoundest bow which involves hitting the ground with one's forehead and remaining in that position. [ASCENDING++], [ELEVATED], [FORMAL]

      Syntactic words
    • viactbow to the ground, kotow
    • vtoNbow (the head) to the ground
    頷  hàn OC: ɡlɯɯmʔ MC: ɦəm 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNnod the head to
    空手  kōng shǒu OC: khooŋ hmljuʔ MC: khuŋ ɕɨu 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPiZHOULI: bow
    叉首  chā shǒu OC: skhraa qhljuʔ MC: ʈʂhɣɛ ɕɨu 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPibow in the Buddhist fashion
    偃  yǎn OC: qanʔ MC: ʔi̯ɐn 0 Attributions

      Syntactic words
    • viactlower one's head
    下拜  xià bài OC: ɢraaʔ proods MC: ɦɣɛ pɣɛi 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactbow deep
    曲  qū OC: khoɡ MC: khi̯ok 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • viactbow (and scrape)
    俯伏  fǔ fú OC: poʔ bɯɡ MC: pi̯o buk 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactbow deep
    絕  jué OC: dzod MC: dziɛt 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vt+prep+Nbow down to, bend to