1.
to lie down, to recline
To lie down in a horizontal position, typically on a bed, sofa, or the ground. More literary than 寝転ぶ or 横になる.
ソファーに横たわる。
To lie down on the sofa.
疲れて芝生の上に横たわった。
Tired, I lay down on the grass.
ベッドに静かに横たわっている患者を見舞った。
I visited the patient who was lying quietly in bed.
2.
to stretch across, to extend, to lie (across a landscape)
For something large like a mountain range, river, plain, or obstacle to extend or stretch across a wide area.
山脈が南北に横たわっている。
A mountain range stretches from north to south.
二つの国の間に広大な砂漠が横たわっている。
A vast desert stretches between the two countries.
実現までには多くの課題が横たわっている。
Many challenges lie ahead before realization.
CONJUGATION:
Godan verb (五段動詞), る row.
- Negative: 横たわらない
- Polite: 横たわります
- Te-form: 横たわって
- Past: 横たわった
TRANSITIVITY:
Intransitive (自動詞). The transitive counterpart is 横たえる (to lay something down).
TEIRU FORM:
横たわっている describes the state of being in a lying position or stretching across a landscape.
USAGE:
More literary and descriptive than 横になる (to lie down, everyday). Often used in novels, descriptive writing, and formal prose. In sense 2, used figuratively for obstacles or challenges that "lie ahead."
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ベッドに横たわる: to lie down on a bed
- 平野が横たわる: a plain stretches out
- 問題が横たわる: a problem lies (ahead)
- 静かに横たわる: to lie quietly