屈膝求和 qū xī qiú hé Kneel and ask for peace

Explanation

屈膝求和指下跪请求和解，形容以卑躬屈膝的姿态向强者求和。通常带有贬义，暗示一方实力弱小，不得不低头服软。

'Qu Xi Qiu He' (屈膝求和) refers to kneeling and requesting peace, describing the humble posture of begging a stronger party for peace. It usually carries a negative connotation, implying one side is weak and has to bow down and soften.

Origin Story

话说战国时期，燕国屡次侵犯赵国边境，赵国国力日渐衰弱，无力还击。赵王无奈之下，只得派使臣前往燕国，屈膝求和，以求暂时苟安。燕王见赵国如此示弱，不仅没有停止侵略，反而变本加厉，狮子大开口，索要巨额赔款和大量土地。赵国百姓怨声载道，然而朝廷内部却无人敢言。不久之后，燕国又出兵攻打赵国，赵国最终灭亡。这个故事警示我们：一味屈膝求和，只会助长侵略者的气焰，最终只会自食其果。

huì shuō zhàn guó shí qī, yàn guó lǚ cì qīn fàn zhào guó biān jìng, zhào guó guó lì rì jiàn shuāi ruò, wú lì huán jī. zhào wáng wú nài zhī xià, zhǐ děi pài shǐ chén qián wǎng yàn guó, qū xī qiú hé, yǐ qiú zàn shí gǒu ān. yàn wáng jiàn zhào guó rú cǐ shì ruò, bù jǐn méi yǒu tíng zhǐ qīn luè, fǎn ér biàn běn jiā lì, shī zi dà kāi kǒu, suǒ yào jù é péi kuǎn hé dà liàng tǔ dì. zhào guó bǎi xìng yuàn shēng zài dào, rán ér cháotíng nèi bù què wú rén gǎn yán. bù jiǔ zhī hòu, yàn guó yòu chū bīng gōng dǎ zhào guó, zhào guó zuì zhōng miè wáng. zhège gùshì jǐngshì wǒmen: yī wèi qū xī qiú hé, zhǐ huì zhùzhǎng qīn luè zhě de qì yàn, zuì zhōng zhǐ huì zì shí qí guǒ.

During the Warring States period, the State of Yan repeatedly invaded the borders of the State of Zhao, which gradually weakened and was unable to fight back. The King of Zhao, in desperation, sent envoys to Yan to humbly ask for peace, hoping for a temporary period of stability. The King of Yan, seeing Zhao's weakness, not only failed to stop his aggression but escalated it, demanding a huge indemnity and vast amounts of land. The people of Zhao protested, but no one in the court dared to speak out. Not long after, Yan attacked Zhao again, resulting in Zhao's destruction. This story warns us: constantly bowing down will only encourage aggressors, and ultimately one will reap what one sows.

Usage

常用作谓语、宾语；形容被迫求和。

cháng yòng zuò wèi yǔ, bīn yǔ; xíngróng bèipò qiú hé

Often used as a predicate and object; describes being forced to seek peace.

Examples

• 面对强大的敌人，他们不得不屈膝求和。

  miàn duì qiángdà de dírén, tāmen bùdébù qū xī qiú hé wèile bìmiǎn zhànzhēng, tā xuǎnzé qū xī qiú hé, bǎoquán guójiā

  Faced with a powerful enemy, they had to surrender and sue for peace. To avoid war, he chose to surrender and sue for peace, preserving the country.

• 为了避免战争，他选择屈膝求和，保全国家。

Related Idioms

• 卑躬屈膝

• 低声下气

Opposite Idioms

• 强硬

• 对抗