In many Western cultures, napping during the day, especially at work or school, can be seen as a sign of laziness or a lack of discipline. In China, the opposite is often true. The 小睡, particularly the midday nap known as 午睡 (wǔshuì), is a deeply ingrained and respected cultural practice.
This is a stark contrast to the American “power-through” work ethic. In China, taking a short nap after lunch is viewed as a strategic and healthy way to restore 精力 (jīnglì) - energy for the afternoon. This pragmatic approach is visible everywhere:
In Schools: It's mandatory for many primary and middle school students to have a nap time after lunch. You will see classrooms of children with their heads down on their desks, sleeping for 30-60 minutes. This is believed to improve concentration and academic performance in the afternoon.
In Offices: While not always official policy, it is socially acceptable and common for office workers to take a 小睡 at their desks during the lunch break. Many employees even keep foldable cots (折叠床 zhédiéchuáng) or special napping pillows for this purpose. Companies see it as an investment in afternoon productivity.
This cultural norm stems from a traditional Chinese medicine belief in balancing 阴 (yīn) and 阳 (yáng) and following the body's natural rhythms. The post-lunch slump is seen not as a weakness to be fought with coffee, but as a natural signal to rest and recharge.
小睡 (xiǎoshuì) is a versatile word used in many everyday situations. It can function as both a verb (“to nap”) and a noun (“a nap”).
As a verb: You can say 我想小睡一会儿 (Wǒ xiǎng xiǎoshuì yíhuìr), which means “I want to nap for a little while.” The phrase is often followed by time duration words like 一会儿 (yíhuìr), 一下 (yíxià), or a specific length like 半个小时 (bàn ge xiǎoshí).
As a noun: You might hear someone say 一个小睡对身体好 (Yí ge xiǎoshuì duì shēntǐ hǎo), meaning “A short nap is good for your health.”
Informal Variants: In casual conversation, people often say 眯一会儿 (mī yíhuìr), which literally means “to squint for a bit,” or 打个盹儿 (dǎ ge dǔnr), “to have a doze.” Another very common colloquialism is 睡个小觉 (shuì ge xiǎo jiào).
The connotation is almost always neutral or positive, implying self-care and preparation for future tasks.