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