Meaning
屈服 means to yield or surrender to pressure, force, or authority. It carries a sense of being forced to accept something against one's will, often used in contexts involving external pressure, threats, or overwhelming circumstances. The word suggests a loss of resistance or giving up one's position.
Usage
屈服 is commonly used in formal and literary contexts, often appearing in discussions of conflict, resistance, or moral dilemmas. It typically takes 于 (yú) to introduce what one submits to, as in '屈服于压力' (to yield to pressure). The word carries somewhat negative connotations, implying weakness or forced compliance rather than voluntary agreement.
Examples
- 01他们永远不会屈服于敌人的威胁。.They will never yield to the enemy's threats.
- 02面对困难，我们不应该轻易屈服。, .In the face of difficulties, we should not easily give in.
Characters
Common collocations
- 屈服于压力to yield to pressure
- 屈服于权威to submit to authority
- 决不屈服to never surrender
- 被迫屈服to be forced to submit
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to submission: 屈 originally meant to bend or curve, extended to mean bending one's will, while 服 means to submit or be subdued. Together they reinforce the concept of yielding.