Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To sit cross-legged: The primary meaning of "xếp bằng" is to sit on the floor or a flat surface with one's legs bent and crossed in front of the body, typically with the feet tucked under the thighs or knees.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Các học sinh ngồi xếp bằng trên sàn. (The students sat cross-legged on the floor.)
  • Khi thiền, cô ấy thường xếp bằng. (When meditating, she usually sits cross-legged.)

Advanced Usage

• "xếp bằng tròn": This variant explicitly means to sit in a full lotus or cross-legged position, often for meditation.
  • Ông ấy ngồi xếp bằng tròn để tĩnh tâm. (He sits in a full lotus position to calm his mind.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngồi xếp bằng (verb phrase): The complete, most common phrase meaning "to sit cross-legged."

Synonyms

• To sit cross-legged: The direct English equivalent.
• To sit in a tailor's fashion: A less common, formal equivalent (from French ).

Notes on Usage

• "Xếp bằng" is almost exclusively used to describe a seated posture. It is common in contexts like meditation, yoga, classroom settings, or traditional gatherings where one sits on mats or the floor.
• The phrase often appears as part of the larger construction "ngồi xếp bằng."