사대

Etymology
, often attributed to a saying in  (translation by James Legge):
 * And it requires a wise [ruler] to be able with a small State to serve a great.
 * And it requires a wise [ruler] to be able with a small State to serve a great.

Noun

 * 1)  traditional East Asian states' deferential diplomacy towards the Chinese empire
 * 2) in particular, Korea's traditional diplomacy towards China, in which the latter was considered the source of Korean political legitimacy
 * 3)  a sycophantic or self-effacing diplomacy towards a stronger nation
 * 4) any situation in which a person or country acts deferentially towards a stronger power
 * 1) any situation in which a person or country acts deferentially towards a stronger power