---
title: kowtow — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «kowtow» in the school dictionary: To kowtow is to kneel and touch the ground with your forehead to show deep respect, as people once did before the Emperor of China. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# kowtow

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, kowtow, Visitors, British ambassador, He, you · **What happens:** kowtow, be, touch, show, do, try · **To what, where:** ground, deep respect, them, deep kneeling bow, 1793, teacher · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«kowtow» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [kowtow in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/kowtow.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To kowtow is to kneel and touch the ground with your forehead to show deep respect, as people once did before the Emperor of China.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kowtow:m1:1
# text = To kowtow is to kneel and touch the ground with your forehead to show deep respect, as people once did before the Emperor of China.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	kowtow	kowtow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	kneel	kneel	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	touch	touch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	forehead	forehead	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
15	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	respect	respect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
18	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
19	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
20	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	21	advmod	_	_
21	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
22	before	before	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	Emperor	Emperor	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
25	of	of	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
26	China	China	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kowtow** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | kneel *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **touch** | infinitive |  | the ground |  |  |  | with your forehead | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent ground=Experiencer with forehead=Instrument |
| 4 | **show** | to-infinitive |  | deep respect |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent respect=Recipient |
| 5 | **do** | past | people |  |  |  | before the Emperor of China | once *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To kowtow to someone is to obey them too much and try too hard to please them.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kowtow:m2:1
# text = To kowtow to someone is to obey them too much and try too hard to please them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	kowtow	kowtow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	obey	obey	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	too	too	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	much	much	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
13	too	too	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	please	please	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	_
17	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kowtow** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | to someone | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | obey *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **try** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **please** | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus they=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A kowtow is this deep kneeling bow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kowtow:m3:1
# text = A kowtow is this deep kneeling bow.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kowtow	kowtow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	nsubj	_	_
5	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	kneeling	kneeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	bow	bow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a kowtow | deep kneeling bow |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Visitors had to kowtow before the emperor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kowtow:x1:1
# text = Visitors had to kowtow before the emperor.
1	Visitors	visitor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	kowtow	kowtow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	emperor	emperor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Visitors |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **kowtow** | to-infinitive | Visitors *not said here* |  |  |  | before the emperor |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A British ambassador refused to kowtow in 1793.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kowtow:x2:1
# text = A British ambassador refused to kowtow in 1793.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	ambassador	ambassador	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	refused	refuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	kowtow	kowtow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	1793	1793	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refuse** | past | a British ambassador |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **kowtow** | to-infinitive | a British ambassador *not said here* |  |  | 1793 |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He kowtows to the team captain all the time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kowtow:x3:1
# text = He kowtows to the team captain all the time.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	kowtows	kowtow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	9	det:predet	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kowtow** | present | He |  |  |  | time | to the team captain | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't kowtow to bullies; tell a teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kowtow:x4:1
# text = Don't kowtow to bullies; tell a teacher.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	kowtow	kowtow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	bullies	bully	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **kowtow** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to bullies | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | a teacher |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The servant made a low kowtow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kowtow:x5:1
# text = The servant made a low kowtow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	servant	servant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	kowtow	kowtow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the servant | a low kowtow |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset kowtow=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I won't kowtow just because she is popular.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kowtow:x6:1
# text = I won't kowtow just because she is popular.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	wo	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	kowtow	kowtow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	just	just	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	popular	popular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **kowtow** | future | I |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | she |  |  |  |  | popular *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king expected everyone to kowtow to him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kowtow:x7:1
# text = The king expected everyone to kowtow to him.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	expected	expect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	kowtow	kowtow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **expect** | past | the king | everyone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **kowtow** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | everyone *not said here* |  | king |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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