HSK 4, v, 15 strokes, radical 身, rank #1295, Medium
躺
tǎng
to lie down
HSK 4, v, 15 strokes, radical 身, rank #1295, Medium
tǎng(tang3) T3
1to recline
2to lie down
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March 24, 2026
躺tǎng(tang3)
The verb 躺 (tǎng) means 'to recline' or 'to lie down.' It is commonly used in contexts related to rest or relaxation, such as lying down on a bed or reclining on a couch. The term conveys a sense of comfort and ease, often associated with taking a break.
Strokes15Radical身Frequency#1295DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, taking time to relax and lie down is often encouraged, especially after meals, as it is believed to aid digestion. This contrasts with some Western cultures where reclining may be less common during the day.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person named 'Tang' who loves to lie down on a couch after a long day. The character 躺 looks like a person stretching out on a bed, with the radical '足' (foot) at the bottom suggesting a position of rest. Visualize Tang sinking into the couch, feeling relaxed.
Meanings of 躺
tǎng(tang3)
1to recline
2to lie down
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 躺
躺Simplified
15Strokes
身Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1295Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 躺
Podcast: 躺
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AI Study Notes for 躺
Quick Contrast
躺 (tǎng) vs 倒 (dǎo) — use 躺 for lying down comfortably, while 倒 implies falling down or collapsing.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person named 'Tang' who loves to lie down on a couch after a long day. The character 躺 looks like a person stretching out on a bed, with the radical '足' (foot) at the bottom suggesting a position of rest. Visualize Tang sinking into the couch, feeling relaxed.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 躺 with other similar verbs like 倒 (dǎo), which means 'to fall' or 'to topple.' 躺 is used in informal contexts and is commonly collocated with words like '床' (bed) or '沙发' (sofa). Pay attention to the tone when using this word, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 躺 connects well with other verbs related to movement and position, such as 坐 (zuò, to sit) and 站 (zhàn, to stand). Students should focus on constructing sentences that describe actions involving these verbs to improve fluency.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, taking time to relax and lie down is often encouraged, especially after meals, as it is believed to aid digestion. This contrasts with some Western cultures where reclining may be less common during the day.
Common Mistakes
Learners may incorrectly use 躺 when they mean to say 'to lie' in a more abstract sense, such as lying about something. Instead, use 说谎 (shuō huǎng) for lying in that context. For example, saying '他躺了' (Tā tǎng le) to mean 'He lied' is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 躺
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Grammar Patterns of 躺
躺 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
She lay on the bed, her eyes closed and her bosom palpitating.
10
他用一只胳膊肘支着身体，别扭地躺在她旁边。
tā yòng yī zhī gē bó zhǒu zhī zháo shēn tǐ， ， bié niǔ dì tǎng zài tā páng。
He lay beside her awkwardly, propped on an elbow.
Cultural Notes for 躺
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, taking time to relax and lie down is often encouraged, especially after meals, as it is believed to aid digestion. This contrasts with some Western cultures where reclining may be less common during the day.
Word Family of 躺
Words Containing This Character4
躺tǎngto recline
躺下to lie down
躺椅deck chair
横躺竖卧to lie down all over the place橫躺豎臥
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 躺 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 躺
Yes, 躺 is relatively common in Chinese, especially in informal contexts. It's useful for describing relaxation or rest. You might hear it in conversations about daily activities or leisure.
Some synonyms for 躺 include 卧 (wò) and 躺卧 (tǎng wò), which also refer to lying down or reclining. Each word might have slightly different nuances, so context matters when choosing which to use.
躺 (tǎng) means 'to recline' or 'to lie down.' It is often used in contexts where someone is resting or lying on a surface. This character is commonly encountered in everyday conversation and written texts.
You can use 躺 in a sentence to describe an action of lying down. For example, '我想躺在沙发上' (Wǒ xiǎng tǎng zài shāfā shàng) means 'I want to lie down on the sofa.' This shows how the verb can be applied in practical scenarios.
No, 躺 is generally used in informal contexts, primarily when talking about resting or relaxing.
Yes, 躺 can also refer to lying down on the ground, but it is more commonly associated with lying on furniture like a bed or sofa.
Common phrases include 躺在床上 (tǎng zài chuáng shàng, lie on the bed) and 躺下来 (tǎng xià lái, lie down).
