The Meditation Body

How to say meditation in Mandarin

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In Mandarin Chinese, the most common and standard way to say "meditation" is:

冥想 (míng xiǎng)

This is the general term for "meditation" used in most contexts today—whether you are talking about mindfulness, guided meditation, or a mental exercise for relaxation.

  • 冥 (míng): Deep, dark, or obscure.
  • 想 (xiǎng): To think, imagine, or contemplate.
    • Other Specific Contexts

    Depending on the type of meditation you are referring to, there are several more specific terms:

    • 打坐 (dǎ zuò): This literally means "to sit" or "sitting meditation." It is most often used in the context of Zen Buddhism or martial arts (like Kung Fu).
    • 禅定 (chán dìng): A formal Buddhist term for "Zazen" or deep meditative absorption.
    • 静坐 (jìng zuò): Literally "quiet sitting." This is a more secular or general term for sitting quietly to calm the mind.
    • 正念 (zhèng niàn): This is the specific translation for "Mindfulness." You will often hear people say 正念冥想 (zhèng niàn míng xiǎng) for "Mindfulness Meditation."
      • Example Sentences
      English
      Mandarin
      Pinyin
      I like to meditate every morning.
      我喜欢每天早上冥想。
      Wǒ xǐhuān měitiān zǎoshang míngxiǎng.
      Meditation helps reduce stress.
      冥想有助于减轻压力。
      Míngxiǎng yǒu zhù yú jiǎnqīng yālì.
      He is practicing sitting meditation.
      他正在练习打坐。
      Tā zhèngzài liànxí dǎzuò.
      ...more
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