Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
躺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
躺
tǎng
to recline
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)tang T3
1to recline
2to lie down
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 躺 means.
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
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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.
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.
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
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 躺, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 躺 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 躺?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 躺 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
躺 = 身 + 尚. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 躺
IDS Structure⿰身尚
躺Full character
=
身shen1
left
尚Shang4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 躺?
How to say to recline in Chinese
“to recline” in Chinese is躺tǎng
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.
When to use 躺
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.
躺 or something close to it
躺 (tǎng) vs 倒 (dǎo) — use 躺 for lying down comfortably, while 倒 implies falling down or collapsing.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 躺
躺
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 躺 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
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.
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我____在床上看电视，看着看着就睡着了。
I was lying in bed watching TV, and while watching, I fell asleep.
Common confusions with 躺
躺vs堂
táng
Similar shape but different meaning.
躺vs躲
duǒ
Similar sound but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to recline”?
or
Example sentences for 躺 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
醒来时，我躺在厨房地板上。
xǐnglái shí， wǒ tǎng zài chúfáng dìbǎn shàng。
When I came round I was on the kitchen floor.
2
她被发现躺在一片血泊中。
tā bèi fāxiàn tǎng zài yī piàn xuè bó zhōng。
She was found lying in a pool of blood.
3
他们惬意地躺在沙发上，胳膊搭在后面。
tāmen qièyì dì tǎng zài shāfā shàng， gēbo dā zài hòumiàn。
They sprawl at ease across the sofa, arms draped over the back.
4
他躺在地板上，哭个不停。
tā tǎng zài dìbǎn shàng， kū gè bùtíng。
He lay down on the floor and cried and cried.
5
她躺在那里，过往的人都能看见她。
tā tǎng zài nàlǐ， guòwǎng de rén dōu néng kànjiàn tā。
She was lying there in full view of anyone who walked by.
6
那名受伤的男子一动不动地仰面躺在那里。
nà míng shòushāng de nánzǐ yídòngbúdòng dì yǎng miàn tǎng zài nàlǐ。
The injured man was lying motionless on his back.
7
那女孩躺在行军床上，因服用安定剂完全处于恍惚的状态。
nà nǚ hái tǎng zài xíng jūn chuáng shàng， yīn fúyòng āndìng jì wánquán chǔyú huǎng hū de zhuàngtài。
The girl lay on an army cot, all doped up with Valium.
8
如果我是你，我就会躺一会儿。
rúguǒ wǒ shì nǐ， wǒ jiù huì tǎng yíhuìr。
I should lie down for a bit, if I were you.
9
她躺在床上，闭着眼，胸部起伏不定。
tā tǎng zài chuáng shàng， bì zhuóyǎn， xiōngbù qǐfú búdìng。
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 gēbo zhǒu zhī zhe shēntǐ， bièniu dì tǎng zài tā pángbiān。
He lay beside her awkwardly, propped on an elbow.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 躺?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 躺
Words containing this character4
躺tǎngto recline
躺下tǎngxiàto lie down
躺椅tǎngyǐdeck chair
横躺竖卧héngtǎngshùwòto lie down all over the place橫躺豎臥
Exercise 1 of 3
Words with 躺
What does 躺下 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).
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 躺?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
