yield, bend, flinch, submit

About this kanji

The kanji 屈 (くつ) primarily means to yield or bend. It can be used as both a verb and part of compound nouns. For example, 窮屈 (きゅうくつ) means narrow or cramped, often describing a small space or tight clothing. 屈指 (くっし) refers to being among the best or leading, like top talent in a field. Another example is 屈辱 (くつじょく), which means disgrace or humiliation. An interesting usage note is that while 屈 suggests bending physically, it can also refer to bending to pressure or submitting in a metaphorical sense.

Example sentences

• 彼は屈辱に耐えた。

  He endured humiliation.

Meanings across languages

English

yield, bend, flinch, submit

Tiếng Việt

nhượng bộ, bẻ cong, lảng tránh, phục tùng

日本語

屈する, 曲げる, ひるむ, 従う

한국어

굴복하다, 구부리다, 위축하다, 복종하다

中文

屈服, 弯曲, 退缩, 提交

id

menyerah

th

ยอมจำนน

es

rendir

fr

céder

de

nachgeben

pt

ceder

Common compounds

• 窮屈きゅうくつnarrow, tight, cramped
• 屈指くっしleading, foremost, preeminent
• 屈辱くつじょくdisgrace, humiliation
• 屈折くっせつbending, curving, twisting
• 屈託くったくworry, care, concern
• 退屈たいくつtedious, boring, dull
• 理屈りくつtheory, reason, logic
• 不屈ふくつpersistence, fortitude, indomitability