I have a bowing acquaintance with German literature.

我对德国文学略知一二。

youdao

I have only a bowing [nodding] acquaintance with him.

我和他只有点头之交。

《新英汉大辞典》

Despite the fact that Saya is clearly a robot, it doesn't seem to have thrown the Japanese sense of politeness, with many shoppers bowing to the robotic aid after they were given direction.

尽管事实上塞娅是个机器人，但是日本人似乎也并没有丢掉礼貌意识，许多顾客在接受指点后，依然向机器人鞠躬。

youdao

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will also have more say over the EU budget, bowing to national governments in only a handful of areas such as tax and foreign policy.

ECONOMIST: The EU after the Irish vote

Not long ago, the sight of a Labor government bowing to demands from bosses and opening the gates to foreign workers would have produced howls of anguish from unions.

ECONOMIST: Where immigration is still booming