曼荼罗
màntúluó
The English word "mandala" is translated into Mandarin as 曼荼罗 (màntúluó).
The term refers to a Hindu design.
Meaning: Hindu design (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
曼荼罗 is a phonetic transliteration of the Sanskrit word 'mandala'.
How do you pronounce it?
màntúluó
Did you know?
- While 'mandala' is a loanword, the concept is often explained in Chinese using the term 坛城, which literally means 'altar city'.
- In Chinese Buddhist tradition, the 曼荼罗 is not just a drawing but can represent a three-dimensional palace or a mental map of the universe.
- The middle character 荼 refers to a bitter herb in Chinese, a word that is almost never used in daily conversation today.
Examples in context
- 我最喜欢画 曼陀罗 。I enjoy painting mandalas the most.
- 这幅曼荼罗的设计很复杂。Zhè fú màntuóluó de shèjì hěn fùzá.The design of this mandala is very complex.
- 他正在画一个曼荼罗。Tā zhèngzài huà yīgè màntuóluó.He is drawing a mandala.
- 我喜欢曼荼罗的几何图形。Wǒ xǐhuān màntuóluó de jǐhé túxíng.I like the geometric patterns of the mandala.
Example conversation
In an art gallery, two friends are looking at an exhibition.
- 雨婷 Yuting这个曼荼罗的颜色真漂亮。Zhège màntuóluó de yánsè zhēn piàoliang.The colors of this mandala are truly beautiful.
- 志强 Zhiqiang是啊，构图也非常对称。Shì a, gòutú yě fēicháng duìchèn.Yes, the composition is also very symmetrical.
- 雨婷 Yuting你觉得这幅画代表什么？Nǐ juéde zhè fú huà dàibiǎo shénme?What do you think this painting represents?
- 志强 Zhiqiang它可能象征宇宙的秩序。Tā kěnéng xiàngzhēng yǔzhòu de zhìxù.It might symbolize the order of the universe.
