鞠きっ躬きゅう如じょ

also: きくきゅうじょ

き

っ

きゅ

う

じょ

Meanings

taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle

deferential; humble; reverent; respectful

Classical literary word describing a deeply respectful, bowing demeanor. Used with 〜とした or 〜として in modern contexts, often in formal or literary writing.

彼かれは鞠きっ躬きゅう如じょとして師しの前まえに立たった。
He stood before his teacher with a deeply respectful, bowing demeanor.
鞠きっ躬きゅう如じょとした態たい度どで接せっする。
To interact with a reverent and humble attitude.

Kanji

鞠ball
躬body, self
如likeness, like, such as

Related words

恭うやうやしい
恭しい is a common i-adjective meaning 'respectful' or 'reverent', used in everyday polite contexts. 鞠躬如 is a rare literary taru-adjective with a stronger nuance of physical bowing and classical formality.
謙けん虚きょ
謙虚 is a common na-adjective/noun meaning 'humble' or 'modest', focusing on a modest mindset. 鞠躬如 emphasizes outward deferential behavior and is much rarer and more literary.

Written forms

鞠躬如
- きくきゅうじょ
  Classical kanji spelling; the reading きくきゅうじょ is restricted to this form. Rare in modern Japanese.
- きっきゅうじょ
きっきゅう如じょ
Mixed kanji-kana spelling with the more common reading きっきゅうじょ. Rare overall.
きくきゅうじょ

Etymology

From classical Chinese, combining 鞠躬 (to bow deeply) and 如 (a suffix indicating a state or manner). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the word is a literary borrowing used in classical Japanese texts.