verb / adjective HSK 5
to bend · to bow · to submit · to wrong · injustice
Meaning
屈 primarily means to bend or curve something, but also carries the extended meaning of bowing down, submitting, or suffering injustice. It often appears in contexts involving physical bending or metaphorical submission to unfair treatment.
Usage
Often used in formal or literary contexts. Common in fixed expressions like 屈服 (to surrender), 委屈 (to feel wronged), and 冤屈 (injustice). The meaning of wrongdoing or injustice is particularly common in modern usage when discussing unfair treatment.
Examples
- 01他从不向困难屈服。.He never yields to difficulties.
- 02她心里觉得很委屈。.She feels very wronged in her heart.
Common collocations
- 屈服于to yield to, to submit to
- 受屈to suffer injustice
- 能屈能伸able to bend and stretch (adaptable)
- 冤屈wrongful treatment, injustice
Antonyms
Origin
The character 屈 is a phonosemantic compound with 尸 (body/corpse radical) suggesting physical form and the phonetic component 出. The bent body radical hints at the core meaning of bending or bowing down.