五体投地

Pronunciation: wǔ tǐ tóu dì Literal meaning: Five parts cast to ground

Origin & Usage

The idiom 五体投地 (wǔ tǐ tóu dì) originates from ancient Indian Buddhist practices, where it was considered the highest form of reverence. This ceremonial gesture involved prostrating oneself by touching the ground with five parts of the body: both hands, both knees, and the head. It was first documented in the Chinese text 《大唐西域记》 (Great Tang Records on the Western Regions) by the monk Xuanzang, who described it as a gesture of utmost respect towards Buddhist relics and esteemed monks. The characters 五 (wǔ) mean 'five', 体 (tǐ) means 'body', 投 (tóu) means 'to cast', and 地 (dì) means 'ground'. In modern usage, the idiom has evolved to express extreme admiration or respect for someone or something, often used in a hyperbolic sense.

Examples

English: "He was so impressed by her talent that he felt utterly humbled."

Chinese: 他对她的才华感到五体投地，完全被震撼了。