叩拜 kòubài to kowtow Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 叩 kòu to kowtow To kowtow or touch one's head to the ground as a sign of respect; often a shortened form of 叩头 kòutóu or 叩首 kòushǒu拜 bài nounverb to pay respect to pay one's respects or do obeisance, such as by bowing, kneeling, or joining hands; to worship a deity or ancestors