詘 (qū) - To bend, yield, submit & to be defeated

詘Tone 1

qū ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

情仁

詘 · qū

To bend, yield, submit;

to be defeated;

to be in straitened circumstances;

to shorten, curtail;

in ancient texts, used as an equivalent for 屈.

To bend, yield, submitto be defeatedto be in straitened circumstances

Usage highlights

To yield and submitBent and unable to stretchIn straitened circumstances, impoverishedTo be defeated and surrenderTo shorten or curtailTo speak haltingly

Synonyms

  • 屈— To bend; submit; wrong; often used interchangeably with 詘
  • 彎— To bend, curve (more physical sense)
  • 服— To submit, obey

Antonyms

  • 伸— To stretch, extend, advance
  • 直— Straight, upright
  • 勝— To win, be victorious

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He had to yield to the circumstances (詘於環境).
  • The defeated army surrendered (詘服的軍隊).
  • The text has a lacuna here (此處文句有詘).
  • He spoke haltingly, as if constrained (其言詘詘).

Collocations

  • To yield and submit(詘服)
  • Bent and unable to stretch(詘伸)
  • In straitened circumstances, impoverished(貧詘)
  • To be defeated and surrender(詘降)
  • To shorten or curtail(詘短)
  • To speak haltingly(詘詘)

Idioms

  • To stoop in order to stand straight(詘以求伸)
  • Bending and stretching according to the times(時詘時伸)
  • Words exhausted and principles impoverished(詞詘理窮)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese philosophy, 詘 (bending/yielding) is often contrasted with 伸 (stretching/advancing), representing a strategic retreat or adaptability.
  • Used in historical texts and classical literature, it carries a formal, somewhat archaic tone.
  • Appears in legal and rhetorical contexts from ancient China, describing situations of compulsion or disadvantage.

FAQ