What is Tang Ping? Investigating the Social Media Phenomenon Through Natural Language Processing
The phrase "Tang Ping" (躺平) has been gaining attention since 2023, particularly in the wake of China's stringent and protracted COVID-19 societal lockdown. Literally translated as "lying flat, " Tang Ping has emerged as a popular sentiment among Chinese individuals on social media. Its significance is so profound that it now has its own Wikipedia entry (“ Tang Ping ,” 2023) and has even garnered the attention of the BBC (“China’s New ‘tang Ping’ Trend Aims to Highlight Pressures of Work Culture,” 2021) . As described in a BBC article, Tang Ping represents "an antidote to society's pressures to find jobs and perform well while working long shifts." It advocates for "not overworking, being content with more attainable achievements and allowing time to unwind." Wow, what a philosophical mindset. While there's a fascinating story behind the term "Tang Ping," I'm not the best storyteller, and this isn't a research pap...