The word is a perfect combination of these actions. The first two characters, 仰卧 (yǎngwò), mean “to lie on one's back” (supine). The second two characters, 起坐 (qǐzuò), mean “to rise and sit.” Together, they paint a complete and accurate picture of the exercise.
Unlike terms rooted in ancient philosophy, 仰卧起坐 is a modern, functional word. Its cultural significance lies in its role within China's emphasis on physical education and fitness standards. For decades, the 仰卧起坐 has been a core component of the national Physical Fitness Test (体质测试, tǐzhì cèshì) for students from primary school through university. The ability to perform a certain number of sit-ups in a minute is a standardized metric of a student's physical health, and test results can be a serious matter. In the West, while sit-ups are a common exercise, they are rarely part of a mandatory, nationwide standardized test that affects a student's overall evaluation. In China, performance in 体育 (tǐyù - P.E.), including exercises like sit-ups and running, is often seen as a reflection of discipline and well-roundedness, tying into a broader cultural value of perseverance and meeting set standards. With the recent fitness boom in China, 仰卧起坐 has also become a staple term in the vocabulary of gym-goers (健身爱好者, jiànshēn àihàozhě) who are focused on building a “six-pack” (六块腹肌, liù kuài fùjī).
仰卧起坐 is most often used as a noun. The most common pattern is to use the verb 做 (zuò), meaning “to do.”
It is considered a neutral term, used in all contexts from formal physical assessments to casual conversations about exercise.