三跪九叩

Traditional form:

三跪九叩

Pinyin (reading):

sānguìjiǔkòu

Definitions:

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

Characters:

• 三 - three
• 跪 - to kneel
• 九 - nine
• 叩 - to ask; to bow, to kowtow; to knock

Traditional characters:

• 三 - three
• 跪 - to kneel
• 九 - nine
• 叩 - to ask; to bow, to kowtow; to knock