低三下四 dī sān xià sì be servile

Explanation

形容一个人在言语行动上非常卑微，极力讨好对方，显得低声下气。

Describes someone who is very humble in speech and action, trying hard to please the other person, appearing servile and obsequious.

Origin Story

在一个热闹的集市上，一位穿着破旧衣服的老人，手里拿着一个破碗，不停地向路人乞讨。他一边走一边低声下气地说：“各位好心人，行行好，施舍点钱吧，我实在没钱吃饭了。”路人大多都视而不见，只有少数人施舍了一点零钱。老人看到有人施舍，脸上顿时堆满了笑容，他低三下四地向施舍的人连声道谢，还不住地说着一些感激的话语。 这时，一位穿着华丽衣服的富家公子，路过这里。他看到老人如此卑微地乞讨，顿时感到十分厌恶。他皱着眉头说：“你看看你，整天低三下四地向别人乞讨，难道就找不到一份正当的工作吗？”老人听到这话，顿时愣住了，他低下头，默默地收拾好自己的碗，独自离开了集市。

zài yī gè rè nào de jí shì shàng, yī wèi chuān zhuó pò jiù yī fú de lǎo rén, shǒu lǐ ná zhe yī gè pò wǎn, bù tíng dì xiàng lù rén qǐ tǎo. tā yī biān zǒu yī biān dī shēng xià qì dì shuō: “gè wèi hǎo xīn rén, xíng xíng hǎo, shī shě diǎn qián ba, wǒ shí zài méi qián chī fàn le.” lù rén dà duō dōu shì ér bù jiàn, zhǐ yǒu shǎo shù rén shī shě le yī diǎn líng qián. lǎo rén kàn dào yǒu rén shī shě, liǎn shàng dùn shí duī mǎn le xiào róng, tā dī sān xià sì dì xiàng shī shě de rén lián shēng dào xiè, hái bù zhù dì shuō zhe yī xiē gǎn jī de huà yǔ. zhè shí, yī wèi chuān zhuó huá lì yī fú de fù jiā gōng zǐ, lù guò zhè lǐ. tā kàn dào lǎo rén rú cǐ bēi wēi dì qǐ tǎo, dùn shí gǎn dào fēn cháng yàn wù. tā zhòu zhe méi tóu shuō: “nǐ kàn kàn nǐ, zhěng tiān dī sān xià sì dì xiàng bié rén qǐ tǎo, nán dào jiù zhǎo bù dào yī fèn zhèng dàng de gōng zuò ma?” lǎo rén tīng dào zhè huà, dùn shí lèng zhù le, tā dī xià tóu, mò mò dì shōu shí hǎo zì jǐ de wǎn, dú zì lí kāi le jí shì.

On a bustling market, an old man in ragged clothes, holding a broken bowl, kept begging passersby. He walked along, saying in a servile tone, “Kind-hearted people, please have mercy and give me some money, I really have no money to eat.” Most passersby ignored him, only a few gave him some change. When the old man saw that someone had given him something, a smile spread across his face, he thanked the donor profusely and kept saying words of gratitude. At this time, a wealthy young gentleman in fine clothes passed by. When he saw the old man begging so humbly, he felt disgusted. He frowned and said, “Look at you, you beg for money all day long, can’t you find a decent job?” The old man was stunned to hear this. He lowered his head, silently packed up his bowl, and left the market alone.

Usage

常用来形容一个人在待人接物时的态度过分卑微，缺乏骨气，给人一种不舒服的感觉。

cháng yòng lái xíng róng yī gè rén zài dài rén jiē wù shí de tài dù guò fèn bēi wēi, què fá gǔ qì, gěi rén yī zhǒng bù shū fú de gǎn jué.

Often used to describe someone who has a servile attitude when dealing with others, lacking backbone, giving an uncomfortable feeling.

Examples

• 他总是～地讨好老板，让人感觉很不舒服。

  tā zǒng shì dī sān xià sì dì tǎo hǎo lǎo bǎn, ràng rén gǎn jué hěn bù shū fú.

  He always tries to please the boss in a servile way, which makes people feel uncomfortable.

• 她为了升迁，不惜～地向领导献媚。

  tā wèile shēng qiān, bù xī dī sān xià sì dì xiàng lǐng dǎo xiàn mèi.

  She is willing to fawn over the leader to get a promotion.

• 我绝不会～地向你求助。

  wǒ jué buì dī sān xià sì dì xiàng nǐ qiú zhù.

  I will never beg you for help in a servile way.

Related Idioms

• 奴颜婢膝

• 俯首帖耳

Opposite Idioms

• 盛气凌人

• 不可一世