跪

guì

危 + 𧾷

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

guì (verb) to kneel

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 危 represents the sound.

Semantic: 足 Phonetic: 危

About

跪 is a phono-semantic compound where the left component 足 (foot/leg radical) indicates its semantic field: actions involving the lower body. The right component 危 (danger) serves primarily as the phonetic element, providing the pronunciation. Its core meaning refers to the physical posture of kneeling, resting one’s weight on the knees. This action carries strong cultural connotations of reverence, submission, or pleading, making the character central to describing acts of worship, formal apologies, or traditional displays of respect within hierarchical contexts.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他跪下请求原谅。

tā guì xià qǐng qiú yuán liàng.

He knelt down to ask for forgiveness.

那个孩子跪在地上玩耍。

nà ge hái zi guì zài dì shang wán shuǎ.

That child is kneeling on the ground playing.

信徒们跪在神像前祈祷。

xìn tú men guì zài shén xiàng qián qí dǎo.

The believers knelt before the idol to pray.

她双腿跪地，泣不成声。

tā shuāng tuǐ guì dì, qì bù chéng shēng.

She knelt on both knees, crying uncontrollably.

古代大臣觐见皇帝时必须下跪。

gǔ dài dà chén jìn jiàn huáng dì shí bì xū xià guì.

Ancient ministers had to kneel when having an audience with the emperor.

他心甘情愿地跪下来向她求婚。

tā xīn gān qíng yuàn de guì xià lái xiàng tā qiú hūn.

He willingly knelt down to propose to her.

这个姿势要求你单膝跪地保持平衡。

zhè ge zī shì yāo qiú nǐ dān xī guì dì bǎo chí píng héng.

This posture requires you to kneel on one knee to maintain balance.

面对祖先的牌位，他恭敬地跪拜行礼。

miàn duì zǔ xiān de pái wèi, tā gōng jìng de guì bài xíng lǐ.

Facing the ancestral tablet, he respectfully knelt and bowed in worship.

Related Characters

Component: 危

Component: 𧾷

跪