haa6 gwai6下跪
Jyutpinghaa6 gwai6
Yalehah gwaih
Definition
To kneel down; to touch one or both knees to the ground.
neutraldaily actionspeople
How it's used
下跪 is a formal or literary term that describes the physical action of kneeling. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people are far more likely to use the phrase 跪低 to convey the same meaning. Using 下跪 in casual conversation can sound overly dramatic or like a line from a period drama.
Examples
He knelt down in front of the altar to pray.
Why are you suddenly kneeling down?
Related words
Common phrases
to kneel down and beg for mercy
Common mistake
Learners often use 下跪 in casual settings where 跪低 is much more natural. Remember that 下跪 carries a sense of ceremony or extreme submission that is rarely needed in daily life.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
