低聲下氣

低声下气
dīshēngxiàqì

to be meek and timid; to be submissive

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

1 低聲 dīshēng
  1. in a low voice
  2. softly
2 下 xià
  1. down
  2. downwards
  3. below
  4. lower
  5. later
  6. next (week etc)
  7. second (of two parts)
  8. to decline
  9. to go down
  10. to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc)
  11. measure word to show the frequency of an action
=3 氣 qì
  1. gas; air
  2. smell
  3. weather
  4. to make angry; to annoy; to get angry
  5. vital energy; qi
=3 氣 xì
  1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Original form of 餼／饩 (xì, “to give food as a gift”).
  2. Original form of 餼／饩 (xì, “to give food as a gift”).