负荆请罪 in English fu4 jing1 qing3 zui4 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) to bring a bramble and ask for punishment (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically to offer somebody a humble apology

Simplified Characters

负 荆 请 罪

Traditional Characters

負 荊 請 罪

Pinyin

fu4 jing1 qing3 zui4

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

负fu4to bear 荆jing1chaste tree or berry (Vitex agnus-castus) 请qing3to ask 罪zui4guilt