míngxiǎng: 冥想 - Meditation, Contemplation

• Keywords: mingxiang, 冥想, Chinese meditation, what is mingxiang, how to say meditation in Chinese, mindfulness in China, Daoist meditation, Buddhist meditation, Chán, dǎzuò, zhèngniàn.
• Summary: 冥想 (míngxiǎng) is the primary Chinese word for “meditation,” a practice of training attention and awareness to achieve mental clarity and emotional calm. Rooted in ancient Buddhist (禅 Chán) and Daoist traditions, 冥想 is now a popular modern wellness practice in China for stress reduction and self-improvement. Understanding this term is essential for anyone interested in Chinese philosophy, traditional wellness, or the modern mental health landscape in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): míngxiǎng
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: To engage in the practice of meditation; the act of meditation itself.
• In a Nutshell: 冥想 (míngxiǎng) is the act of quieting the conscious mind to reach a state of deep concentration or peaceful awareness. While it can be a simple relaxation technique, it traditionally carries a deeper significance related to spiritual insight and self-cultivation. Think of it as a workout for your mind, aiming for inner silence and clarity rather than active, busy thinking.

• 冥 (míng): This character can mean “dark” or “deep.” In this context, it refers to the profound, subtle, and internal nature of the practice. It suggests a journey into the depths of one's own consciousness, beyond surface-level thoughts.
• 想 (xiǎng): This character means “to think,” “to ponder,” or “to visualize.” The component 心 (xīn) at the bottom means “heart” or “mind,” indicating a mental activity.

When combined, 冥想 (míngxiǎng) literally translates to “deep thinking” or “profound contemplation.” However, it paradoxically describes a state of observing or transcending thought, rather than engaging in it. The name points to the depth of the mental state one aims to achieve.

冥想 is not a recent import to China; it's a practice with millennia of history, deeply woven into the country's philosophical and spiritual fabric.

• Philosophical Roots: The practice is a cornerstone of both Buddhism (佛教 Fójiào), particularly the Chan (禅 Chán) school (which became Zen in Japan), and Daoism (道家 Dàojiā). In Chan Buddhism, meditation (often called 打坐 dǎzuò) is the primary path toward enlightenment. In Daoism, meditation aims to quiet the mind to achieve harmony with the Dao (道), the natural order of the universe, a state known as “stillness in movement.”
• Comparison to Western “Meditation”: In the West, “meditation” is often secularized and framed as a tool for productivity, stress reduction, and mental health—promoted by apps like Calm and Headspace. While this modern, wellness-focused understanding of 冥想 is now very popular in China, the term still carries strong traditional undertones.

Unlike the Western concept of “networking,” which is often transactional, the Chinese concept of 关系 (guānxi) involves deep-seated mutual obligation. Similarly, where Western “meditation” can be a life-hack, traditional 冥想 is part of a holistic system of self-cultivation (修养 xiūyǎng), aimed at refining one's character and achieving a state of inner peace (内心的平静 nèixīn de píngjìng) and wisdom.

Today, 冥想 is experiencing a major resurgence, especially among younger, urban populations.

• Health and Wellness: It's widely promoted as an effective tool for stress relief (减压 jiǎnyā) and combating the pressures of the “996” work culture. You'll hear people say they use apps to meditate for 10-20 minutes a day.
• Psychology and Self-Help: The concept of mindfulness (正念 zhèngniàn) is often used interchangeably with 冥想 in therapeutic and self-help contexts to improve focus and emotional regulation.
• Corporate Training: Some progressive companies offer meditation workshops to help employees improve well-being and concentration.
• Spiritual Practice: For those interested in traditional culture, visiting Buddhist temples or Daoist mountains often involves learning about or practicing meditation in its original spiritual context.

The term is neutral to positive and can be used in both formal and informal settings. It's universally understood as a beneficial practice.

• Example 1:
  • 我每天早上冥想十分钟。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang míngxiǎng shí fēnzhōng.
  • English: I meditate for ten minutes every morning.
  • Analysis: A simple, common sentence demonstrating 冥想 as a daily routine verb.
• Example 2:
  • 冥想可以帮助我们减轻压力。
  • Pinyin: Míngxiǎng kěyǐ bāngzhù wǒmen jiǎnqīng yālì.
  • English: Meditation can help us reduce stress.
  • Analysis: Here, 冥想 is the subject of the sentence (a noun), highlighting its function or benefit.
• Example 3:
  • 你试过冥想吗？感觉怎么样？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shìguò míngxiǎng ma? Gǎnjué zěnmeyàng?
  • English: Have you tried meditation? How did it feel?
  • Analysis: A great conversational question. The verb 试过 (shìguò) means “to have tried.”
• Example 4:
  • 很多年轻人开始学习冥想来提高专注力。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō niánqīngrén kāishǐ xuéxí míngxiǎng lái tígāo zhuānzhùlì.
  • English: Many young people are starting to learn meditation to improve their concentration.
  • Analysis: Shows the modern application and motivation for meditation. 提高专注力 (tígāo zhuānzhùlì) means “to improve concentration.”
• Example 5:
  • 他闭上眼睛，进入了深深的冥想状态。
  • Pinyin: Tā bì shàng yǎnjīng, jìnrùle shēnshēn de míngxiǎng zhuàngtài.
  • English: He closed his eyes and entered a state of deep meditation.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 冥想 as a noun within the phrase “meditation state” (冥想状态 míngxiǎng zhuàngtài).
• Example 6:
  • 在佛教中，冥想是通往智慧的重要途径。
  • Pinyin: Zài Fójiào zhōng, míngxiǎng shì tōngwǎng zhìhuì de zhòngyào tújìng.
  • English: In Buddhism, meditation is an important path to wisdom.
  • Analysis: This sentence places the term in its traditional, spiritual context.
• Example 7:
  • 当我感到焦虑时，我会通过冥想来让自己平静下来。
  • Pinyin: Dāng wǒ gǎndào jiāolǜ shí, wǒ huì tōngguò míngxiǎng lái ràng zìjǐ píngjìng xiàlái.
  • English: When I feel anxious, I calm myself down through meditation.
  • Analysis: 通过 (tōngguò) means “through” or “by means of,” a useful structure for explaining how you achieve something.
• Example 8:
  • 这本书教你如何进行冥想练习。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū jiāo nǐ rúhé jìnxíng míngxiǎng liànxí.
  • English: This book teaches you how to do meditation exercises.
  • Analysis: 进行 (jìnxíng) is a formal verb for “to carry out” or “to conduct.” 练习 (liànxí) means “practice” or “exercise.”
• Example 9:
  • 他认为冥想不只是放松，更是一种自我探索。
  • Pinyin: Tā rènwéi míngxiǎng bùzhǐshì fàngsōng, gèng shì yīzhǒng zìwǒ tànsuǒ.
  • English: He believes meditation is not just about relaxation, but even more so a form of self-exploration.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights a deeper understanding of meditation, using the “not only…, but also…” structure (不只… 更… bùzhǐ… gèng…).
• Example 10:
  • 刚开始冥想时，我的脑子里总是有很多杂念。
  • Pinyin: Gāng kāishǐ míngxiǎng shí, wǒ de nǎozi lǐ zǒngshì yǒu hěnduō zániàn.
  • English: When I first started meditating, my mind was always full of distracting thoughts.
  • Analysis: This describes a very common experience for beginners. 杂念 (zániàn) is a key vocabulary word meaning “stray/distracting thoughts.”

• 冥想 (míngxiǎng) vs. 思考 (sīkǎo) - Meditating vs. Thinking: This is the most critical distinction. 冥想 is about observing or quieting thought, while 思考 is active, analytical thinking.
  • Correct: 我在冥想，请不要打扰我。(Wǒ zài míngxiǎng, qǐng bùyào dǎrǎo wǒ.) - I'm meditating, please don't disturb me.
  • Incorrect: 我在冥想晚饭吃什么。(Wǒ zài míngxiǎng wǎnfàn chī shénme.)
  • Why it's wrong: Deciding what to eat for dinner is active thinking. You should use 思考 (sīkǎo) or just 想 (xiǎng): 我在想晚饭吃什么。(Wǒ zài xiǎng wǎnfàn chī shénme.)
• 冥想 (míngxiǎng) vs. 发呆 (fādāi) - Meditating vs. Spacing Out: 发呆 means to zone out or stare into space. It's an unfocused, passive state. 冥想, by contrast, is a focused practice that requires discipline and awareness, even if the goal is stillness.
  • 发呆 (fādāi): 他上课时总喜欢发呆。(Tā shàngkè shí zǒng xǐhuān fādāi.) - He always likes to space out during class.
  • 冥想 (míngxiǎng): 他每天冥想来训练自己的注意力。(Tā měitiān míngxiǎng lái xùnliàn zìjǐ de zhùyìlì.) - He meditates every day to train his focus.

• 打坐 (dǎzuò) - “To sit cross-legged.” Refers specifically to the physical posture of sitting meditation. It's more physical and less abstract than 冥想.
• 正念 (zhèngniàn) - “Mindfulness.” A direct translation of the Buddhist concept of *sati*. In modern Chinese, it's used much like in English to refer to the practice of being present and aware. Often used alongside 冥想.
• 禅 (Chán) - Chan Buddhism (the origin of Japanese Zen). A school of Buddhism where meditation is the central practice.
• 入定 (rùdìng) - A more advanced, technical term meaning to enter a state of deep meditative absorption or concentration (samādhi).
• 修养 (xiūyǎng) - Self-cultivation; self-improvement. Meditation is seen as a key method for developing one's xiūyǎng.
• 内心的平静 (nèixīn de píngjìng) - Inner peace. A primary goal for many who practice meditation.
• 减压 (jiǎnyā) - To de-stress; to reduce pressure. A very common modern reason for practicing 冥想.
• 道家 (Dàojiā) - Daoism. A native Chinese philosophical tradition with its own forms of meditation focused on stillness and harmony with the Dao.
• 杂念 (zániàn) - Stray or distracting thoughts. The “mental noise” one tries to quiet during meditation.