屈从 (qū cóng) — Chinese Word

verb HSK 6

Traditional 屈從

qū cóng

to yield to · to submit to · to give in to · to bow to

Meaning

屈从 means to yield or submit to someone or something, often against one's will or better judgment. It carries a sense of reluctantly giving up one's position or principles under pressure, authority, or force. The word implies a certain passivity or loss of autonomy.

Usage

This is a formal, literary term often used in written contexts or serious discussions. It typically describes submission to authority, pressure, or circumstances, and often has a somewhat negative connotation suggesting unwilling capitulation. Common patterns include 屈从于 (to submit to) followed by abstract nouns like pressure, fate, or power.

Examples

01
我们不应该屈从于外界的压力，要坚持自己的原则。
Wǒmen bù yīng gāi qū cóng yú wài jiè de yā lì, yào jiān chí zì jǐ de yuán zé.
We should not yield to external pressure, but stick to our principles.
02
他拒绝屈从于命运的安排，决心改变自己的人生。
Tā jù jué qū cóng yú mìng yùn de ān pái, jué xīn gǎi biàn zì jǐ de rén shēng.
He refused to submit to fate's arrangement and was determined to change his life.

Characters

Common collocations

屈从于压力
qū cóng yú yā lì
to yield to pressure
屈从于命运
qū cóng yú mìng yùn
to submit to fate
屈从权威
qū cóng quán wēi
to bow to authority
不屈从
bù qū cóng
to refuse to yield

Antonyms

Origin

屈 originally meant to bend or curve, and extended to mean yielding or submitting. 从 means to follow or obey. Together they emphasize the act of bending oneself to follow another's will.