Local government cadres have meanwhile been accused of lying flat at work.
The social movement known as tang ping in Chinese grew out of a meme that went viral in 2021. Now, to lie flat is to stop striving to meet society’s expectations – from career goals to accumulating wealth – and instead embrace a slower, more passive lifestyle.
While it has been criticised by official media, this has become a prevailing sentiment among young Chinese. It has also been linked with another online buzzword, nei juan – or “inward roll” – which metaphorically refers to the intense competition among a group of people of similar age or background.
Academics and educators have pointed to a lack of hope about the opportunities available to young people in China, even if they work hard.
