To kowtow to someone is to be too eager to please them, especially someone with power — you agree too fast, you flatter them, you do not stand up for yourself. It is not a compliment.

To kowtow to someonekowtow to someone is to be too eager to please them是指過度急著討好對方 especially someone with power尤其是有權力的人 you agree too fast你太快就同意 you flatter them你巴結對方 you do not stand up for yourself你不為自己據理力爭 It is not a compliment這不是稱讚

Papers use it when they think a government or a company is bending too far. You can also use it as a noun: a kowtow.

Papers use it報紙會用這個字 when they think a government or a company is bending too far當他們覺得政府或公司讓步得太過分 You can also use it as a noun你也可以把它當名詞用 a kowtowa kowtow

Though actually, the older meaning is a real movement of the body: you kneel and knock your forehead on the floor, a deep show of respect in old Chinese court life. English borrowed the word for that bow, then stretched it to any over-eager obedience, even when nobody is on the floor. In modern English the stretched meaning is the one you will meet most.

Though actually不過其實 the older meaning is a real movement of the body比較舊的意思是真的一個身體動作 you kneel and knock your forehead on the floor你跪下來、額頭碰地 a deep show of respect in old Chinese court life在古代中國宮廷裡是很深的敬意表現 English borrowed the word for that bow英文借用這個字來指那個動作 then stretched it to any over-eager obedience後來延伸成任何過度順從的行為 even when nobody is on the floor就算沒有人真的跪在地上 In modern English在現代英文裡 the stretched meaning is the one you will meet most你最常遇到的就是這個延伸出來的意思