躺下
tǎngxià
In Chinese, to lie down is 躺下 (tǎngxià). Wiktionary also lists 偃 (yǎn) and 躺 (tǎng).
Meaning: assume a horizontal position (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 躺下 | tǎngxià |
| 偃 | yǎn |
| 躺 | tǎng |
The phrase means to assume a horizontal position.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase 躺下, the character 下 means 'down'.
Which one should you use?
躺下 emphasizes the specific action of moving from a standing or sitting position to a horizontal one. In contrast, 躺 can be used more broadly to describe the general act of reclining or the state of lying.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
偃 is a highly formal or literary term for lying down or prostrating, often found in classical texts.
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe the continuous state of being in a lying position, use 躺着 instead of the directional 躺下.
How do you pronounce it?
tǎngxià
Did you know?
- In modern internet slang, the term 躺平 ('lying flat') describes a social movement of rejecting extreme work pressure and consumerism to live a minimalist life.
- The formal term 偃 contains the character for 'man' (人), which visually suggests the human figure performing the action.
- The formal term 偃 was historically used to describe the act of prostrating oneself before an emperor or deity.
Examples in context
- 躺下來休息一會兒。Lie down and rest for a while.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 躺下.Tatoeba #798231 by Martha, translation #25667 by CK
- 我觉得我要躺一下了。I think I'll lie down for a while.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 躺.Tatoeba #663233 by sysko, translation #267740 by CK
- 躺下來讓自己舒服一點。Lie down and make yourself comfortable.Tatoeba #798256 by Martha, translation #25668 by CK
- 今晚我需要早点躺下休息。Tonight, I need to lie down and rest early.
- 你累了吗？回家躺着放松一下吧！Are you tired? Go home and lie down to relax!
- 中午吃完饭后，我喜欢在沙发上躺着看电视。After lunch, I enjoy lying down on the sofa and watching TV.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At home, a woman suggests her tired husband rests on the sofa.
- 梓涵 Zihan你太累了，快躺下休息吧。nǐ tài lèi le, kuài tǎng xià xiū xi ba.You are too tired, hurry and lie down to rest.
- 浩然 Haoran好，我真的想躺下。hǎo, wǒ zhēn de xiǎng tǎng xià.Okay, I really want to lie down.
- 梓涵 Zihan浩然，我也想陪你休息。hào rán, wǒ yě xiǎng péi nǐ xiū xi.Haoran, I want to rest with you too.
- 浩然 Haoran謝謝妳，梓涵。xiè xie nǐ, zǐ hán.Thank you, Zihan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lie down” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 偃, 躺, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
