KOWTOWING Meaning and
Definition
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Kowtowing is a verb that originated from Chinese culture and is now commonly used in English-speaking contexts. It refers to the act of showing excessive respect, reverence, or submission to someone in a manner that is seen as obsequious or servile.
The term carries historical and cultural significance, as it was part of the traditional Chinese ritual of paying homage to the emperor or a person of high authority and social status. To kowtow, one would kneel and touch their forehead to the ground, demonstrating complete deference and submission. In modern usage, the term has expanded to include any exaggerated display of subservience or flattery towards another person.
Figuratively, kowtowing can also mean behaving in a way that sacrifices personal autonomy or principles in order to appease someone in power. It implies an excessive willingness to conform or comply, often out of fear or in the hopes of gaining favor or advantage.
Kowtowing is often viewed negatively, as it suggests a lack of self-respect or independence. It can be seen as an insincere attempt to ingratiate oneself and may undermine personal integrity or moral values. In political or social contexts, the term may be used to criticize individuals or groups who are perceived as surrendering their autonomy or compromising their beliefs for the sake of gaining favor or maintaining harmony.
Top Common Misspellings for KOWTOWING *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for KOWTOWING
Etymology of KOWTOWING
The word "kowtowing" originated from Chinese. Its etymology can be traced back to the Chinese term "kòutóu" (磕頭), which consists of two characters: "kòu" (磕) meaning "to knock" or "to kowtow", and "tóu" (頭) meaning "head". In ancient China, a kowtow was a deep bow performed by kneeling and touching one's forehead to the ground as a sign of reverence or submission. The term "kowtow" was later borrowed into English, retaining its original meaning of ingratiating oneself or showing excessive obedience or submissiveness.
Similar spelling words for KOWTOWING
Conjugate verb Kowtowing
CONDITIONAL
I
would kowtow
we
would kowtow
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would kowtow
FUTURE
I
will kowtow
we
will kowtow
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he/she/it
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FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have kowtowed
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will have kowtowed
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will have kowtowed
he/she/it
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PAST
I
kowtowed
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kowtowed
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kowtowed
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kowtowed
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kowtowed
PAST PERFECT
I
had kowtowed
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PRESENT
I
kowtow
we
kowtow
you
kowtow
he/she/it
kowtows
they
kowtow
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have kowtowed
we
have kowtowed
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have kowtowed
he/she/it
has kowtowed
they
have kowtowed
I
am kowtowing
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are kowtowing
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was kowtowing
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were kowtowing
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were kowtowing
I
will be kowtowing
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I
have been kowtowing
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have been kowtowing
I
had been kowtowing
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had been kowtowing
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will have been kowtowing
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I
would have kowtowed
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would have kowtowed
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would have kowtowed
I
would be kowtowing
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would be kowtowing
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would be kowtowing
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would be kowtowing
I
would have been kowtowing
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would have been kowtowing
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would have been kowtowing
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would have been kowtowing
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would have been kowtowing
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