In 15 Sekunden
- Physically bending your torso downward.
- Used for picking things up or tying shoes.
- Can metaphorically imply humbling oneself or losing integrity.
Bedeutung
It literally means to bend your waist or lean over to pick something up. In a social sense, it can also imply humbling yourself or showing respect.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Helping someone at a park
奶奶，我来帮您弯腰捡东西。
Grandma, let me bend down and pick that up for you.
At the gym with a trainer
弯腰的时候，背要直。
When you bend over, keep your back straight.
Complaining to a friend
我老了，弯腰都觉得累。
I'm getting old; even bending over feels tiring.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The concept of the 'waist' in China is tied to integrity and strength. While '弯腰' is a neutral physical description, the act of bending low has historically been associated with submission or service. A famous poet once refused to 'bend his waist' for five pecks of rice, a phrase still used today to describe someone with unshakeable principles.
Direction Matters
Adding '下' (down) makes it '弯下腰', which sounds much more natural when you are describing the start of the movement.
Not a Bow
If you are at a Japanese or Chinese wedding and need to bow, use '鞠躬'. '弯腰' sounds like you're just looking for your keys on the floor!
In 15 Sekunden
- Physically bending your torso downward.
- Used for picking things up or tying shoes.
- Can metaphorically imply humbling oneself or losing integrity.
What It Means
弯腰 is a simple physical action. You use it when you drop your keys. You use it to tie your shoes. It describes the movement of your torso moving downward. It is a very common, everyday verb phrase.
How To Use It
Use it as a standard verb. You can say 他弯腰捡球 (He bent over to pick up the ball). It often pairs with result verbs like 捡 (pick up). Don't overthink the grammar here. Just treat it like any physical movement. It's as natural as saying 'sit down' or 'stand up'.
When To Use It
Use it whenever someone is physically bending. At the gym, you might 弯腰 for a stretch. If you see an elderly person drop something, you 弯腰 to help. In a more poetic sense, it can describe flowers drooping. It’s perfect for describing mundane daily chores. Use it when you're complaining about your back hurting too!
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for a formal bow. That is usually 鞠躬. 弯腰 is less formal and more about the physical act. Don't use it if you just mean 'leaning' sideways. That would be 歪. Also, avoid using it to mean 'giving in' unless you are using the specific idiom 为五斗米折腰.
Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the 'waist' represents one's dignity. There is a famous saying about not 'bending the waist' for a small salary. This means not losing your integrity for money. So, while 弯腰 is usually just physical, it can carry a weight of humility. Historically, bending low was a sign of status difference. Today, it's mostly just about picking up your phone.
Common Variations
弯下腰 is a very common way to say 'bend down'. The 下 adds a sense of direction. You might also hear 弯着腰, which means 'staying bent over'. For example, someone working in a rice field is 弯着腰. If you are very flexible, people might praise your 腰功 (waist skill).
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is neutral and safe for all levels of conversation. Remember that '弯' is the action and '腰' is the object; you can insert '下' or '了' between them.
Direction Matters
Adding '下' (down) makes it '弯下腰', which sounds much more natural when you are describing the start of the movement.
Not a Bow
If you are at a Japanese or Chinese wedding and need to bow, use '鞠躬'. '弯腰' sounds like you're just looking for your keys on the floor!
The Integrity Waist
In literature, 'bending the waist' is often a negative thing, implying you've sold your soul or given up your pride for money.
Beispiele
6奶奶，我来帮您弯腰捡东西。
Grandma, let me bend down and pick that up for you.
A polite way to offer help to an elder.
弯腰的时候，背要直。
When you bend over, keep your back straight.
Instructional use for physical exercise.
我老了，弯腰都觉得累。
I'm getting old; even bending over feels tiring.
Casual self-deprecating humor about aging.
他弯腰系鞋带，没看到我走过去。
He bent down to tie his laces and didn't see me walk by.
Narrating a simple sequence of events.
为了生活，他不得不向现实弯腰。
For the sake of survival, he had to bow to reality.
Metaphorical use meaning to yield or compromise.
对不起，我弯腰捡一下手机。
Sorry, I'm just bending down to grab my phone.
Polite explanation of movement in a tight space.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence about picking up a fallen pen.
我的笔掉了，我得___捡起来。
You need to bend down (弯腰) to pick up a pen from the floor.
Which particle makes 'bending down' feel like a completed action?
他___下腰，捡起了一块钱。
The verb '弯' combines with '下腰' to describe the action of bending down.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of Bending
Tying shoes or picking up trash.
弯腰捡垃圾
General physical description.
请弯一下腰
A deep bow of respect.
鞠躬 (Jūgōng)
When to use 弯腰
Fitness
Stretching your hamstrings
Helping
Picking up a dropped wallet
Chores
Mopping under the sofa
Metaphor
Giving in to pressure
Aufgabensammlung
2 Aufgaben我的笔掉了，我得___捡起来。
You need to bend down (弯腰) to pick up a pen from the floor.
他___下腰，捡起了一块钱。
The verb '弯' combines with '下腰' to describe the action of bending down.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenMostly yes, but you can use it for things with a 'waist' or middle part, like a robot or even a drooping sunflower in a poetic sense.
You can say 别弯腰. This is common advice if someone has a back injury.
No, martial arts bows are usually called 抱拳礼 or 鞠躬. 弯腰 is too casual for the dojo.
弯腰 involves the whole torso, while 低头 only means lowering your head to look down.
Not at all! It's a normal physical movement. Just don't do it abruptly in a way that bumps into them.
You can say 我弯腰很不方便 or 我弯不下腰.
Not necessarily, but it's often used in stories to describe the physical struggle of the elderly, like 驼背 (hunchback).
Only if you physically drop something. It's not a business term, it's a physical action term.
Not really slang, but 折腰 is the more 'literary' version used in songs and poems to mean 'being captivated' or 'yielding'.
Use 稍微弯一下腰 to make the request sound softer and more natural.
Verwandte Redewendungen
鞠躬
To bow formally
低头
To lower one's head
折腰
To humble oneself / to be captivated
挺胸
To puff out one's chest (the opposite)
