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俯首稱臣

简俯首称臣 · 繁俯首稱臣

Mandarin · pinyin fǔ shǒu chēng chén

to bow before (idiom)
to capitulate

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Characters in this entry

俯: fǔ · bow down, face down, look down
首: shǒu · head; first; leader, chief; a poem; Kangxi radical 185
稱: Look up this written character
臣: chén · minister, statesman, official; Kangxi radical 131
称: chēng · call; name, brand; address; say

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3–3–1–2 · fu3 shou3 cheng1 chen2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

俯首稱臣 · find source passages ↗ · 俯首称臣 · find source passages ↗

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) to concede one's defeat or submission

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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