瞑想・冥想|めいそうmeisou[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
瞑想瞑想 is the most common written form, is written entirely in kanji, and is the recommended choice for beginners.
冥想冥想 is a rarely used kanji-only form of 瞑想. You may encounter it, but beginners should choose 瞑想 instead.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, intransitive verbmeditation; contemplation
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 瞑想する（めいそうする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 瞑想します（めいそうします） |
| Negative (nai) | 瞑想しない（めいそうしない） |
| polite (masen) | 瞑想しません（めいそうしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 瞑想せず・瞑想せぬ（めいそうせず・めいそうせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 瞑想した（めいそうした） |
| polite (mashita) | 瞑想しました（めいそうしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 瞑想しなかった（めいそうしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 瞑想しませんでした（めいそうしませんでした） |
| Te form | 瞑想して（めいそうして） |
| Potential | 瞑想できる（めいそうできる） |
| Passive | 瞑想される（めいそうされる） |
| Causative | 瞑想させる（めいそうさせる） |
| Causative passive | 瞑想させられる（めいそうさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 瞑想すれば（めいそうすれば） |
| tara | 瞑想したら（めいそうしたら） |
| Volitional | 瞑想しよう（めいそうしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 瞑想しましょう（めいそうしましょう） |
| Imperative | 瞑想しろ（めいそうしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym思索しさくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Systematic, methodical deep thinking; 「瞑想」 is eyes-closed practice that stills the mind and focuses awareness.
- Synonym黙想もくそうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Silent, wordless reflection; 「瞑想」 leans toward eyes-closed meditation or religious practice.
- Synonym観想かんそうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Focusing the mind to observe deeply, common in religious practice and also absorbed contemplation; 「瞑想」 is the more general word.
- Related沈思ちんしWrittenWritten/formal prose. Deep, brooding thought, usually in the set phrase 「沈思黙考」; 「瞑想」 centers on quieting the mind with eyes closed.
- Related黙考もっこうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Thinking in silence; 「瞑想」 carries the nuance of meditative practice.
- Related黙念もくねんWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare. Sinking into silent, absorbed thought, as in 「黙念と」; unlike 「瞑想」 it has no sense of eyes-closed mental discipline.
- Related静思せいしWrittenWritten/formal prose. Calming the mind and reflecting quietly; 「瞑想」 leans toward meditative practice.
- Related黙思もくしWrittenWritten/formal prose. Thinking silently without a word; 「瞑想」 suggests eyes-closed meditation.
- Related観照かんしょうWrittenWritten/formal prose. In philosophy, objectively contemplating the essence of things; 「瞑想」 is about cultivating the mind.
Use 「瞑想」 for eyes-closed meditation and mindfulness practice, as in 「瞑想にふける」. For silent thinking choose 「黙想」 or 「黙考」; for methodical deep thought, 「思索」; for absorbed contemplation, 「観想」. 「沈思」「黙思」「黙念」 are written-style silent brooding, 「静思」 quiet reflection, 「観照」 philosophical objective contemplation.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
