How to Write 躺 (tǎng) — Meaning “to lie down”

Imagine your body (身) is so tired that you want to lie down, and you say 'Still (尚) can't move!' The right side 尚 sounds like 'shang,' which can help you recall the action of stretching out. Picture yourself on a recliner saying 'I am still lying here.'

The left radical 身 is tall and narrow, with the last stroke turning into a short upward flick. The right side 尚 is wider, so keep the whole character balanced — do not make the left side too big. A common mistake is writing the 身 radical with a long horizontal stroke that crosses into 尚; remember to keep them separate.

躺 means to lie down flat, while 躲 (duǒ) means to hide or dodge. Visually, 躺 has the radical 身 on the left and 尚 on top right, whereas 躲 also uses 身 but adds 朵 (duǒ, flower) on the right. In usage, you 躺 down to rest, but you 躲 behind something to avoid being seen.

躺 is very common in daily life, such as 躺下 (to lie down) when going to bed or 躺在沙发上 (lying on the sofa). It also appears in casual slang like 躺平 (tǎng píng, lying flat), which describes a relaxed or passive attitude toward life. The character carries no special cultural taboo and is used literally and figuratively.

Common words containing 躺 include: 躺下 (tǎng xià) — to lie down; 躺椅 (tǎng yǐ) — recliner; deck chair; 躺着 (tǎng zhe) — lying down.