Name: English Tutor Nick P Verb Phrase (152) Kowtow to
Uploaded: 2019-08-13T16:35:26.000Z
Duration: 2 min 19 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Verb Phrase 152. The verb phrase today is to

The imperative

kowtow to. Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. If someone kowtow to

Future simple

another person in power or authority,  he or she will give in will give in or give

in to and do whatever they want. Often in a way that shows respect for those in

authority. So you kowtow to someone.  Okay. Let's continue.

Of course, kowtow is derived from. So it comes from...  directly from the Chinese

word for kou tou which is formed using the word kuo which you know,  is that

it's like a verb to mean to knock or to hit . To knock with a noun   tou

head. The original and literal use was the act of kneeling and touching one's

head to the ground. You know,  you've probably seen this in the movies or,  or

many other places and it may be some show where somebody got down and they reach

their head actually touches the ground as a way of showing respect and authority to

those in power.  Okay. Well anyway. Let's say we have three

examples how we used it in English anyway. So first one. In the end she will

have to kowtow to her boss's wishes if she wants to keep her job. Yeah. So she

might have to give in . Even though that sounds like she probably had a little

bit of a disagreement , it may be going on but in the end maybe she will eventually

give in.  Number two.  I will never kowtow to his demands. You know,  we might hear

somebody say that in this way and they're not going to give in. That's it

All right. Deal No Deal. It doesn't matter.  I'm not kowtowing to their demands. And

number three. In North Korea,  everyone is expected to kowtow  to Kim Jong Un.  Of

course,  the leader of North Korea. Anyway,  I hope you got it . I hope it

was clear. Thank you for your time.  Bye-bye.