Slang - 躺平 Stop Competing

In this lesson, you’ll learn one of the most influential modern Chinese internet slang terms: 躺平 (tǎng píng).

躺平 literally means “to lie flat,” but in slang it describes a lifestyle choice:

👉 Choosing to stop overworking, stop competing, and do only the minimum required to get by

It is often seen as a reaction to 内卷 (nèijuǎn / rat race culture).

Vocabulary
🛏️ 躺平 (tǎng píng)

Meaning:
To opt out of intense competition and pressure; to do the minimum; to reject burnout culture.

💡 Idea: “I’m not fighting anymore—I’m just lying flat.”

Culture Tip
躺平 became popular in China around 2021.
It reflects frustration with high pressure education, work culture, and rising living costs.
It is not always literal laziness—it can also express mental resistance to burnout culture.

Connection to Other Slang
内卷 = intense competition (rat race)
躺平 = refusing the rat race
吃瓜 = watching from the sidelines

👉 These three together describe modern internet life attitudes.