躺平
tǎng píng Literally: “to lie flat”What does 躺平 mean?
躺平 (tǎng píng), 'lying flat', is the quiet-quitting philosophy that became a genuine social movement in China. It surfaced in 2021 with a viral forum post titled 躺平即是正义 ('Lying Flat Is Justice'), whose author described living on a few hundred yuan a month, working odd jobs only when necessary, and refusing the treadmill of career, mortgage, marriage and children.
The term is the direct counterpart to 内卷 (nèijuǎn, involution). If involution means ever-escalating competition with no added reward, lying flat is the individually rational response: simply stop competing. Don't buy the apartment, don't chase the promotion, don't have the second child — lie down, and the pressure has nothing to push against.
State media attacked the idea as shameful, which only cemented its popularity; censors briefly suppressed the original post and related groups. The word has since softened into everyday usage — a student who decides not to cram for a minor quiz might joke 我躺平了 ('I've lain flat'), meaning they've stopped trying and accepted whatever comes. There is even a hybrid, 45度人生 (the 45-degree life): too tired to stand up and grind, too anxious to fully lie down.
For learners, note the verb structure: 躺 (lie down) + 平 (flat) forms a resultative compound. You will also see 躺 borrowed into other slang, like 躺赢 (tǎng yíng, 'to win while lying down' — to succeed without effort thanks to teammates or luck).