wat1 sat1屈膝

Jyutpingwat1 sat1

Yalewāt sāt

Uncommon

Definition

To kneel; to bend the knees as a sign of submission or obedience.

to bend the knees; to kneel down
figurativeto surrender; to submit to external pressure

neutralbodypeople

How it's used

Beyond the literal act of kneeling, this term carries a strong sense of moral compromise or surrender. It is frequently used in political or social contexts to describe someone yielding to pressure or authority against their own principles. Using it implies a loss of dignity or integrity rather than just a physical posture.

Examples

keoi5佢wai6為zo2咗cin2錢ging2竟jin4然hoeng3向lou5老baan2闆wat1屈sat1膝。

He actually knelt down to his boss for money.

min6面deoi3對koeng4強kyun4權，ngo5我dei6哋zyut6絕deoi3對m4唔wui2會wat1屈sat1膝。

Facing tyranny, we will absolutely not submit.

Common phrases

wat1屈sat1膝tau4投hong4降

to kneel and surrender

hoeng3向jan4人wat1屈sat1膝

to bow down to someone

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the simple physical action of kneeling, which is more commonly expressed as 跪低 in casual conversation. 屈膝 is reserved for more formal, dramatic, or metaphorical contexts involving submission.