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趴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
趴
pā
to lie on one's stomach
HSK 7, zg, 9 strokes, radical 足, rank #3886, Very Hard
趴
pā
to lean forward, resting one's upper body (on a desktop etc)
HSK 7, zg, 9 strokes, radical 足, rank #3886, Very Hard
趴
pā
(Taiwan) percent
HSK 7, zg, 9 strokes, radical 足, rank #3886, Very Hard
趴
pā
prone, lying down, leaning over
HSK 7, zg, 9 strokes, radical 足, rank #3886, Very Hard
pā(pa1)pa T1
1to lie on one's stomach
2to lean forward, resting one's upper body (on a desktop etc)
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March 24, 2026
趴pā(pa1)
The character 趴 (pā) primarily means to lie on one's stomach or to lean forward, resting the upper body on a surface like a desk. It is commonly used in contexts related to posture and position, often describing a relaxed or informal way of resting. In Taiwan, it can also refer to a percentage, showcasing its versatility in different contexts.
Strokes9Radical足Frequency#3886DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the act of lying down or resting on a surface can symbolize relaxation and comfort, often seen in casual settings among friends or during leisure time. It is common to see people in parks or homes adopting this posture to enjoy a break.
Memory tip
Imagine a cat that loves to lie flat on the ground, its body parallel to the floor—this visual aids in connecting the character's form (the radical '走' meaning 'to walk' suggests movement) to the action of lying down. The 'pā' sound can be remembered by picturing the cat 'pouncing' down to rest.
Meanings of 趴
pā(pa1)
1to lie on one's stomach
2to lean forward, resting one's upper body (on a desktop etc)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 趴 means.
About 趴
趴Simplified
9Strokes
足Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#3886Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 趴
Podcast: 趴
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AI study notes for 趴
Quick Contrast
趴 (pā) vs 躺 (tǎng) — use 趴 for leaning forward or lying on the stomach, while 躺 specifically means to lie down flat on the back.
Usage Notes
When using 趴, be mindful of the context as it can imply a casual setting, making it less suitable for formal situations. Common collocations include '趴下' (to lie down) and '趴在桌子上' (to lean on the table). A common mistake is using it in a formal tone; remember that it’s more informal.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 趴 connects well with other terms related to body positions and actions. Students should focus on differentiating it from similar terms like 躺 (tǎng), which means to lie down in a more relaxed manner, rather than just on the stomach.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 趴 with similar characters like 躺; for instance, saying '我躺在桌子上' (I lie on the desk) when they mean to describe leaning forward is incorrect. Correct usage would be '我趴在桌子上'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 趴
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 趴 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.
趴 = 足 + 八. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 趴
IDS Structure⿰足八
趴Full character
=
足ju4
left
八ba1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 趴?
How to say to lie on one's stomach in Chinese
“to lie on one's stomach” in Chinese is趴pā
The character 趴 (pā) primarily means to lie on one's stomach or to lean forward, resting the upper body on a surface like a desk. It is commonly used in contexts related to posture and position, often describing a relaxed or informal way of resting. In Taiwan, it can also refer to a percentage, showcasing its versatility in different contexts.
When to use 趴
When using 趴, be mindful of the context as it can imply a casual setting, making it less suitable for formal situations. Common collocations include '趴下' (to lie down) and '趴在桌子上' (to lean on the table). A common mistake is using it in a formal tone; remember that it’s more informal.
趴 or something close to it
趴 (pā) vs 躺 (tǎng) — use 趴 for leaning forward or lying on the stomach, while 躺 specifically means to lie down flat on the back.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 趴 with similar characters like 躺; for instance, saying '我躺在桌子上' (I lie on the desk) when they mean to describe leaning forward is incorrect. Correct usage would be '我趴在桌子上'.
Write 趴
趴
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Practice writing 趴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 趴
趴 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
