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土下座 (どげざ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
kneeling and bowing to the ground ; prostrating oneself
A deep apology or supplication gesture where one kneels and bows until the forehead touches the ground. Often used in formal apologies or dramatic begging.
ほど
謝あやま
っ
て
も
許ゆる
し
て
もらえ
なかっ
た
。
Even though I apologized on my knees, I wasn't forgiven.
Similar words 謝しゃ 罪ざい 謝罪 is a general apology, while 土下座 specifically refers to the physical act of kneeling and bowing deeply as a form of apology.
平へい 伏ふく 平伏 is a more formal or historical term for prostrating oneself, often in a ceremonial or feudal context, whereas 土下座 is more commonly used in modern dramatic apologies.
Etymology Compound of 土 (earth, ground) and 下座 (kneeling down, sitting on the floor). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term describes the act of kneeling on the ground as a gesture of deep apology or supplication.
