躬 (gōng) - To bow & to bend forward

躬Tone 1

gōng ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical: 身

枫惠

躬 · gōng

To bow;

to bend forward;

personally;

oneself;

in person.

To bowto bend forwardpersonally

Usage highlights

To bowPersonally attendPractice personallyIn personBow and scrapePersonally plow

Synonyms

  • 鞠— To bow; to bend
  • 弯— To bend; to curve
  • 亲身— Personally; in person

Antonyms

  • 伸— To stretch; to extend
  • 直— Straight; upright
  • 委托— To delegate; to entrust

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He bowed deeply to show respect (鞠躬).
  • The leader personally inspected the project (躬亲视察).
  • One must practice what one preaches (躬行实践).
  • She attended the ceremony in person (躬逢其盛).

Collocations

  • To bow(鞠躬)
  • Personally attend(躬亲)
  • Practice personally(躬行)
  • In person(亲身躬行)
  • Bow and scrape(卑躬屈膝)
  • Personally plow(躬耕)

Idioms

  • Bow and scrape like a sycophant(卑躬屈膝)
  • Practice what one preaches(躬行实践)
  • Personally attend to affairs(事必躬亲)
  • Reflect on oneself and act(反躬自省)
  • Bend the body and exhaust loyalty(鞠躬尽瘁)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian tradition, 躬 represents the virtue of personal involvement and humility.
  • The character embodies the ideal of the scholar-official who leads by example through personal practice.
  • Used in classical texts to emphasize direct, first-hand experience rather than delegation.
  • The physical act of bowing (躬) signifies respect and submission in traditional Chinese etiquette.

FAQ