About
The character 跪, meaning to kneel, is structured with the semantic radical 足 (foot) and the component 危, which historically provided phonetic indication and perhaps alluded to the posture's inherent instability. Etymologically, this character originally described a formal sitting position with the knees bent and weight on the heels, common in ancient daily life and ritual. Over centuries, as furniture and social norms changed, its primary meaning shifted away from general sitting to specifically signify the act of kneeling, typically as a gesture of respect, supplication, or deference. The modern form retains these two components, with 足 clearly relating to the physical action and 危 continuing to form part of its graphical identity.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他跪下请求原谅。
那个孩子跪在地上玩耍。
信徒们跪在神像前祈祷。
她双腿跪地，泣不成声。
古代大臣觐见皇帝时必须下跪。
他心甘情愿地跪下来向她求婚。
这个姿势要求你单膝跪地保持平衡。
面对祖先的牌位，他恭敬地跪拜行礼。