Chinese Dictionary

Usage of the character 叩

old variant of 叩 (kòu)
to knock

to knock
to kowtow

to kowtow
also written 磕頭／磕头 (kētóu)

to kowtow (traditional greeting, esp. to a superior, involving kneeling and pressing one's forehead to the ground)
also written 磕頭／磕头 (kētóu)

to kowtow in salute

spike (volleyball)

to bow in salute; to kowtow

to knock on a door

to knock at the gate (old)
to make an approach
to invade
to attack the goal (sports)

to visit (esp. one's superiors)

(literary) to inquire
to ask
question

to kowtow

call-in (loanword)

sānguìjiǔkòu

to kneel three times and kowtow nine times (formal etiquette on meeting the emperor)