瞑想

• Reading: めいそう
• Romaji: meisō
• Kanji breakdown: 瞑 (close eyes, meditate) + 想 (think, contemplate) → meditation with closed eyes, quiet contemplation
• Pronunciation: /me.i.soː/

Meaning

Meditation — the practice of quiet contemplation and mental focus, revived by the modern wellness movement.

瞑想 is the traditional Japanese word for meditation, rooted in Buddhist practice. While it has existed for centuries, it experienced a revival as the global mindfulness boom reached Japan. Unlike the more corporate マインドフルネス, 瞑想 carries a slightly more spiritual or traditional connotation. It is now popular among a wide range of people — from business professionals seeking stress relief to yoga practitioners to people using meditation apps. The word bridges Japan's ancient contemplative traditions with modern wellness culture.

Examples

1. 毎朝10分だけ瞑想するようにしてるんだけど、結構いいよ。 I've been meditating for just 10 minutes every morning and it's actually really great.
2. 瞑想って何も考えないのが難しいんだよね。 The hard part about meditation is trying not to think about anything.
3. ストレスたまったときは瞑想すると頭がすっきりする。 When I'm stressed out, meditating really clears my head.

Usage Guide

Context: wellness, self-help, friends, social media

Tone: calm, reflective

Do Say

• 寝る前に瞑想すると睡眠の質が上がるらしいよ。 (They say meditating before bed improves sleep quality.)
• 瞑想アプリ使ってるけど、ガイド付きだと初心者でもやりやすい。 (I use a meditation app — guided meditation makes it easy even for beginners.)

Don't Say

• 「瞑想って怪しい宗教っぽい」は偏見 (Saying meditation seems like a 'weird religious thing' is a common prejudice — modern meditation is widely practiced as a secular wellness technique)

Common Mistakes

• Thinking 瞑想 requires completely emptying the mind — most meditation practices focus on awareness of thoughts, not their elimination

Origin & History

Classical Japanese/Chinese word from 瞑 (to close the eyes) + 想 (to think/contemplate). Ancient Buddhist practice term that gained renewed mainstream popularity through the 2010s-2020s global meditation and mindfulness movement.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient Buddhist origins, modern revival from 2010s

Generation: All ages, wellness-conscious individuals

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Bridges traditional Buddhist practice with modern wellness trends. Meditation apps like Meditopia have become popular in Japan.