瞑想（めいそう、meisou）
- meditation

The Japanese word 瞑想 (めいそう, *meisou*) primarily refers to the practice of meditation. It involves focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. This can involve techniques like focusing on your breath, repeating a mantra, or simply observing your thoughts without judgment. 瞑想 is a broad term and encompasses various meditation styles and practices. Its goal is often to cultivate mindfulness, reduce stress, and promote a sense of well-being.

⚫︎ 毎日瞑想する時間はありますか？ Translation: Do you have time to meditate every day? ⚫︎ ヨガのクラスで瞑想をしました。 Translation: I meditated in the yoga class. ⚫︎ 彼女はストレスを減らすために瞑想を始めた。 Translation: She started meditating to reduce stress.

You can use 瞑想 in various contexts when discussing meditation. It's suitable for talking about personal practices, classes, or the benefits of meditation. You might use it to describe what you do during meditation or what others are doing. When talking about it in Japanese, it is generally used as a noun.

瞑想 is most commonly written with the kanji 瞑想. The reading in hiragana is めいそう. It is rarely written in katakana. There are no significant variations in the okurigana.

There aren't many direct synonyms for 瞑想 in Japanese, as it's a specific concept. However, related terms could be: ⚫︎ 座禅 (*zazen*) - Zen meditation ⚫︎ マインドフルネス (*maindofurunesu*) - Mindfulness (a modern concept often linked to meditation)

There aren't direct antonyms for 瞑想 in the way of opposite words. However, the opposite of the state of mind achieved through meditation could be: ⚫︎ 混乱 (*konran*) - confusion ⚫︎ 不安 (*fuan*) - anxiety

私は毎朝、静かに15分間瞑想しています。 ・Translation: I meditate quietly for 15 minutes every morning. ・Explanation: This sentence explains a regular practice of meditation.

彼女は瞑想のクラスに参加して、リラックスする方法を学びました。 ・Translation: She participated in a meditation class and learned how to relax. ・Explanation: This shows using 瞑想 in a context of learning.

The word 瞑想 is formed from two kanji: ⚫︎ 瞑 (*mei*) - meaning "close one's eyes", "dark", or "deep thought." ⚫︎ 想 (*sou*) - meaning "thought," "idea," or "to think." Therefore, 瞑想 literally means "to close one's eyes and think deeply," which accurately reflects the practice of meditation.