冥想
míngxiǎng
冥想 (míngxiǎng) is the Mandarin word for meditation. Wiktionary also lists 沉思 (chénsī) and 禪定 / 禅定 (chándìng).
Meaning: devotional contemplation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 冥想 | míngxiǎng |
| 沉思 | chénsī |
| 禪定 / 禅定 | chándìng |
冥想 refers to the practice of meditation and can be used as both a noun and a verb in Mandarin sentences.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 冥想 is composed of 冥, meaning deep, profound, dark or obscure and 想, meaning to think or imagine. Literally, it means to think in a deep or obscure state.
Which one should you use?
冥想 is the most common term for general meditation, such as mindfulness or secular mental exercises. In contrast, 沉思 refers more to the act of deep, serious thinking or pondering a specific subject rather than a spiritual or meditative practice. Finally, 禪定 (or 禅定) is specifically used in a Buddhist context to refer to meditative absorption or dhyana.
How do you pronounce it?
míngxiǎng
Did you know?
- While 冥想 is a common modern term, the character 冥 carries a connotation of the underworld or the realm of the dead, suggesting a state of being 'beyond the visible' world.
- While 冥想 describes the mental act of meditation, the word 禪 (Zen) has evolved in Chinese culture to describe an entire aesthetic of simplicity and mindfulness found in ink painting and tea ceremonies.
- The term 禪定 is a linguistic hybrid, combining a phonetic translation of the Sanskrit word 'dhyāna' with the Chinese word 定 meaning 'stability' or 'calm'.
Examples in context
- 思考會打擾冥想。Thoughts disturb meditation.This sentence shows how thoughts can affect 冥想.Tatoeba #13144691 by LeviHighway, translation #12317072 by carlosalberto
- 蒼蠅和蚊子干擾了他的冥想。Flies and mosquitoes interfered with his meditation.This sentence illustrates how external factors can interrupt 冥想.Tatoeba #889319 by Martha, translation #35498 by CK
- 他每天早晨都会进行冥想来放松身心。He meditates every morning to relax both his body and mind.
- 每天早上的冥想對我有幫助。Měitiān zǎoshang de míngxiǎng duì wǒ yǒu bāngzhù.Morning meditation helps me every day.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “meditation” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 禪定, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
