# 甘拜下风

gān bài xià fēng

Willingly concede another's superiority

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Gladly bow to the lower position

**Traditional Chinese:** 甘拜下風

**Register:** Modest · general

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Acknowledge that someone performs better.

Usually courteous, sometimes playfully exaggerated.

## Understanding the expression

The lower position suggests yielding rank, while willingness makes the gesture gracious rather than forced. Modern speakers use the phrase to admit that another person has greater skill, knowledge, or endurance in a particular area. It can be a sincere compliment or a playful reaction. The concession need not concern every aspect of the person. Naming the skill makes the praise clear without implying general inferiority or permanent defeat.

## Examples

论厨艺，我甘拜下风。

### Traditional Chinese

論廚藝，我甘拜下風。

lùn chú yì ， wǒ gān bài xià fēng 。

In cooking, I gladly concede your superiority.

看了她的作品，他甘拜下风。

### Traditional Chinese

看了她的作品，他甘拜下風。

kàn le tā de zuò pǐn ， tā gān bài xià fēng 。

After seeing her work, he admitted she was better.

你记忆力这么好，我甘拜下风。

### Traditional Chinese

你記憶力這麼好，我甘拜下風。

nǐ jì yì lì zhè me hǎo ， wǒ gān bài xià fēng 。

Your memory is so good that I concede.

这一局我甘拜下风，下次再试。

### Traditional Chinese

這一局我甘拜下風，下次再試。

zhè yì jú wǒ gān bài xià fēng ， xià cì zài shì 。

I concede this game and will try again next time.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%94%98%E6%8B%9C%E4%B8%8B%E9%A2%A8)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=136&webMd=1&la=0)

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