<p>Quote:- &quot;With the meaning of lying down....&quot;</p>
<p>Yes, but as in English there are different words for different &quot;lying down&quot; positions.</p>
<p>The Chinese words you mentioned describe some of these positions.</p>
<p>Face up = 躺 = the supine position = lying horizontally with the face and torso facing up;</p>
<p>Face down = 趴 =  the prone position, which is face down;</p>
<p>Crouch position = 卧 =  bending low with the limbs close to the body; as in &quot;Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon&quot; -- 卧虎藏龙</p>
<p>There is also the &quot;Fetal Position&quot; = 胎儿姿势 = lying or sitting curled, with limbs close to the torso and the head close to the knees.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-10T07:44:42.970Z
卧虎藏龙 is the movie that inspired me to want to learn this language. When I first saw it back in 2000, I was mesmerized by the sounds of Mandarin Chinese. To me, it was such a beautiful, musical, badass language. I always knew I had to learn it at some point in my life. Last year, when COVID hit, I knew right away -- THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME. Thank you for this answer, Wayne. <3
Joseph King
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-10T08:51:02.953Z
卧虎藏龙, the movie, is both iconic and pivotal on many levels, personal and movie history, being the second Chinese martial arts movie to have a truly World wide audience, (after Bruce Lee movies) Glad that it inspired you to learn Chinese, though it takes a pandemic to catalyze it.  Do hope that your level of language proficiency will one day enable you to read Chinese martial arts novels of which I am a life long addict. You'll know what I mean when you get there. Seeing that you still need help to differentiate  躺, 卧, 趴, it'll be some time yet. Hope the pandemic don't last that long :( 后会有期!!!
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-12T05:49:28.743Z
That would be amazing to able to read them! And yes, unfortunately, it did take the pandemic to make me put all the chaos in my head aside and really think about what *I* would like to do in life, instead of the day-to-day, routine-based happenings. And of all the things to do, I committed fully to this language. Since I started this journey, I haven't missed a single day of at least 2 hours of intense studying. And I fully realize this will be a lifelong endeavor; it will never end. I will always be learning this language, just as I'm always learning and exercising my mother tongue.
Joseph King
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-12T07:35:27.960Z
If you could devote 2 hours of study per day, you should, with a dictionary, be able to attempt reading a teaser in the novel titled "三少爷的剑" by 古龙, (a very famous author who wrote in a non-classical style) https://www.gulongbbs.com/book/ssydj/  Keep at it, nothing comes easy, even for Chinese people. My advice, forget about trying to analyze Chinese passages using English grammatical rules. You are not going for exams. Just study the various meanings each word conveys, singly and in combination. In time the "structure" of the language emerges, and you wonder what the fuss was all about.  祝你好运
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-12T13:07:47.603Z
Thanks for the recommendation; and that suggestion is quite good! I honestly really try not to analyze passages using English grammar. Mostly, I try to just ensure I completely understand something before moving on to the next item. For example, I was thinking about posting a new question: What does "方面" mean in this sentence: "他们在咨询保险方面的问题"? -- I basically understand this sentence. It's just the murkiness of 方面 that makes me super curious. I just like being able to completely understand things. I'll come across a hundred sentences before encountering something I need to post questions about.
Joseph King
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-12T13:15:08.287Z
And so regarding that sentence, "他们在咨询保险方面的问题," I felt it says something like, "They're asking questions regarding insurance." But because I'm self-studying (and because I don't trust some of the given English translations that come with the sentences), I might not be 100% sure of some word/character usages, which will cause unrest in my mind when hearing the sentence, instead of just smooth understanding/comprehension. That's why I think this place is a miracle with people like you extending your knowledge to folks like me. <3
Joseph King
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-12T15:37:21.420Z
In terms of the phrase 方面, on its own it is a very common, i.e. commonly used everyday phrase. Actually "regarding" is perfectly acceptable in this particular context. But 保险方面 means "regarding insurance" only if you read 保险方面的问题 as "one single component element" Just 保险方面 on its own means -- this "aspect" of insurance. It is the 的问题, (it should be "problems" here BTW in this context), that makes it "regarding" It's confusing I know, but you'll get the "feel" of it as you improve. Be patient. I doubt you would get a sentence like that if you were to attend a formal beginners' class.
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-12T15:40:56.490Z
BTW, our Moderators do not encourage asking Questions on the comments column. They prefer that it be "properly" asked as a Question so as to reach a wider audience with more input from other Contributors.
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-12T15:54:51.727Z
Finally, from my answer you should know what I meant by "Just study the various meanings each word conveys, singly and in combination. In time the "structure" of the language emerges" In the Chinese language the "structure" dictates the various shades of meanings ascribe to words and combination of words.
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-13T07:01:50.657Z
Thanks so much, Wayne. Sorry for this extended discussion!!! <33333
Joseph King
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-04T07:33:51.177Z
2021-12-04T15:36:17.457Z
2021-12-04T15:36:17.457Z
Wayne Cheah
<p>卧Generally used to form words.
卧槽
卧室bedroom
卧薪尝胆
坐卧不安be unable to sit down or sleep at ease
卧冰求鲤This is an allusion，means show filial to parents</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-04T14:24:44.680Z
2021-12-04T14:24:44.680Z
施氏食狮史
<ul>
<li><p>躺 = lie - you can lie face up, face down, or sideways, but 躺 is more often used for the action that is voluntary. For example, 躺在地上裝死 (lying on the ground and pretending to be dead)</p>
</li>
<li><p>卧 = lie - you can lie face up, face down, or sideways. We use 卧 for voluntary or involuntary action. For example, 臥牀不起 (laying in bed and can't get up - involuntary); 倒臥血泊 (laying on your own pool of blood - involuntary); 臥薪嗜膽 (laying on firewood and taste a gall bladder - voluntary)</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The main difference between 躺 and 卧 is 躺 is more colloquial and 卧 is more literary.</p>
<p>Examples:</p>
<p>側身躺著, 仰天躺著, 面朝下躺著 = 側臥, 仰臥, 俯臥</p>
<p>臥牀不起 = 躺在床上起不了來</p>
<ul>
<li>趴 = lie (in prone position) - you can only 趴 face down, and it is a very colloquial word (the literary version is 伏 - you can only 伏 face down)</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-04T03:41:18.093Z
2021-12-04T03:55:35.903Z
2021-12-04T03:55:35.903Z
Tang Ho
<p>With the meaning of lying down, what's the difference between these three characters? 躺 vs  卧 vs 趴</p>

<translation><ambiguity>
With the meaning of lying down, what's the difference between these three characters? 躺 vs 卧 vs 趴
# With the meaning of lying down, what's the difference between these three characters? 躺 vs 卧 vs 趴

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-12-04)

With the meaning of lying down, what's the difference between these three characters? 躺 vs 卧 vs 趴

**Tags:** translation, ambiguity


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-12-04. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Quote:- "With the meaning of lying down...."

Yes, but as in English there are different words for different "lying down" positions.

The Chinese words you mentioned describe some of these positions.

Face up = 躺 = the supine position = lying horizontally with the face and torso facing up;

Face down = 趴 = the prone position, which is face down;

Crouch position = 卧 = bending low with the limbs close to the body; as in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" -- 卧虎藏龙

There is also the "Fetal Position" = 胎儿姿势 = lying or sitting curled, with limbs close to the torso and the head close to the knees.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: 卧虎藏龙 is the movie that inspired me to want to learn this language. When I first saw it back in 2000, I was mesmerized by the sounds of Mandarin Chinese. To me, it was such a beautiful, musical, badass language. I always knew I had to learn it at some point in my life. Last year, when COVID hit, I knew right away -- THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME. Thank you for this answer, username_1. <3  
> **username_1**: 卧虎藏龙, the movie, is both iconic and pivotal on many levels, personal and movie history, being the second Chinese martial arts movie to have a truly World wide audience, (after Bruce Lee movies) Glad that it inspired you to learn Chinese, though it takes a pandemic to catalyze it.  Do hope that your level of language proficiency will one day enable you to read Chinese martial arts novels of which I am a life long addict. You'll know what I mean when you get there. Seeing that you still need help to differentiate  躺, 卧, 趴, it'll be some time yet. Hope the pandemic don't last that long :( 后会有期!!!  
> **username_0**: That would be amazing to able to read them! And yes, unfortunately, it did take the pandemic to make me put all the chaos in my head aside and really think about what *I* would like to do in life, instead of the day-to-day, routine-based happenings. And of all the things to do, I committed fully to this language. Since I started this journey, I haven't missed a single day of at least 2 hours of intense studying. And I fully realize this will be a lifelong endeavor; it will never end. I will always be learning this language, just as I'm always learning and exercising my mother tongue.  
> **username_1**: If you could devote 2 hours of study per day, you should, with a dictionary, be able to attempt reading a teaser in the novel titled "三少爷的剑" by 古龙, (a very famous author who wrote in a non-classical style) https://www.gulongbbs.com/book/ssydj/  Keep at it, nothing comes easy, even for Chinese people. My advice, forget about trying to analyze Chinese passages using English grammatical rules. You are not going for exams. Just study the various meanings each word conveys, singly and in combination. In time the "structure" of the language emerges, and you wonder what the fuss was all about.  祝你好运  
> **username_0**: Thanks for the recommendation; and that suggestion is quite good! I honestly really try not to analyze passages using English grammar. Mostly, I try to just ensure I completely understand something before moving on to the next item. For example, I was thinking about posting a new question: What does "方面" mean in this sentence: "他们在咨询保险方面的问题"? -- I basically understand this sentence. It's just the murkiness of 方面 that makes me super curious. I just like being able to completely understand things. I'll come across a hundred sentences before encountering something I need to post questions about.  
> **username_0**: And so regarding that sentence, "他们在咨询保险方面的问题," I felt it says something like, "They're asking questions regarding insurance." But because I'm self-studying (and because I don't trust some of the given English translations that come with the sentences), I might not be 100% sure of some word/character usages, which will cause unrest in my mind when hearing the sentence, instead of just smooth understanding/comprehension. That's why I think this place is a miracle with people like you extending your knowledge to folks like me. <3  
> **username_1**: In terms of the phrase 方面, on its own it is a very common, i.e. commonly used everyday phrase. Actually "regarding" is perfectly acceptable in this particular context. But 保险方面 means "regarding insurance" only if you read 保险方面的问题 as "one single component element" Just 保险方面 on its own means -- this "aspect" of insurance. It is the 的问题, (it should be "problems" here BTW in this context), that makes it "regarding" It's confusing I know, but you'll get the "feel" of it as you improve. Be patient. I doubt you would get a sentence like that if you were to attend a formal beginners' class.  
> **username_1**: BTW, our Moderators do not encourage asking Questions on the comments column. They prefer that it be "properly" asked as a Question so as to reach a wider audience with more input from other Contributors.  
> **username_1**: Finally, from my answer you should know what I meant by "Just study the various meanings each word conveys, singly and in combination. In time the "structure" of the language emerges" In the Chinese language the "structure" dictates the various shades of meanings ascribe to words and combination of words.  
> **username_0**: Thanks so much, username_1. Sorry for this extended discussion!!! <33333  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-12-04. Score: 1

卧Generally used to form words.
卧槽
卧室bedroom
卧薪尝胆
坐卧不安be unable to sit down or sleep at ease
卧冰求鲤This is an allusion，means show filial to parents


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-12-04. Score: 1

* 躺 = lie - you can lie face up, face down, or sideways, but 躺 is more often used for the action that is voluntary. For example, 躺在地上裝死 (lying on the ground and pretending to be dead)
* 卧 = lie - you can lie face up, face down, or sideways. We use 卧 for voluntary or involuntary action. For example, 臥牀不起 (laying in bed and can't get up - involuntary); 倒臥血泊 (laying on your own pool of blood - involuntary); 臥薪嗜膽 (laying on firewood and taste a gall bladder - voluntary)

The main difference between 躺 and 卧 is 躺 is more colloquial and 卧 is more literary.

Examples:

側身躺著, 仰天躺著, 面朝下躺著 = 側臥, 仰臥, 俯臥

臥牀不起 = 躺在床上起不了來

* 趴 = lie (in prone position) - you can only 趴 face down, and it is a very colloquial word (the literary version is 伏 - you can only 伏 face down)


---

