躺

• Pinyin: tǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 躺 = 身 (body) + 尚 (still, phonetic component)

Meaning

To lie down; to recline. Describes the action of placing oneself in a horizontal position on a surface.

Used when a person lies flat on a bed, sofa, floor, or other surface, typically for rest or sleep. Often combined with directional complements such as 下 (down) to form 躺下. Distinct from 坐 (sit) and 站 (stand).

Examples

1. 他累了，躺在床上休息了一会儿。 He was tired and lay down on the bed to rest for a while.
2. 生病的时候最好多躺着，好好养病。 When you're sick, it's best to lie down more and recover properly.
3. 孩子躺在沙发上看电视，不一会儿就睡着了。 The child lay on the sofa watching TV and fell asleep before long.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, health

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你先躺一会儿，等饭好了我叫你。(Lie down for a bit first; I'll call you when dinner is ready.)
• 医生说我要多躺着，少活动。(The doctor said I should lie down more and move around less.)

Don't Say

• 他在地板上躺坐。(Don't combine 躺坐 as a compound — choose 躺 for lying flat or 坐 for sitting, not both together.)

Origin & History

Compound of 身 (body) as the semantic component and 尚 (still/yet) as the phonetic component.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal