dǎzuò: 打坐 - To Meditate, To Sit in Meditation

• Keywords: dǎzuò, 打坐, Chinese meditation, what is dazuo, how to meditate in Chinese, Zen meditation, Buddhist meditation, Taoist meditation, sitting meditation, cross-legged meditation, zazen, 打坐 pinyin, mindfulness in Chinese.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 打坐 (dǎzuò), the traditional Chinese practice of seated meditation. More than just “sitting quietly,” dǎzuò is a disciplined act of mindfulness deeply rooted in Buddhist and Taoist philosophy. This page explores its cultural significance, how it differs from Western “meditation,” and its practical use in modern China for both spiritual cultivation and stress relief. Learn how to use this term correctly with clear examples and cultural insights.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dǎzuò
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: To sit cross-legged in quiet, formal meditation.
• In a Nutshell: 打坐 (dǎzuò) is the specific physical act and mental discipline of “sitting meditation.” Think of it as the Chinese equivalent of Japanese “zazen.” While the goal is inner peace and clarity, the term itself focuses on the action: an intentional, structured form of sitting, often with legs crossed, to quiet the mind. It's a practice, not just a state of being.

• 打 (dǎ): While its most common meaning is “to hit” or “to strike,” here it acts as a versatile prefix indicating “to engage in” or “to perform an activity.” Think of its use in 打电话 (dǎ diànhuà - to make a phone call) or 打球 (dǎ qiú - to play ball). In 打坐, it transforms “sitting” from a passive state into a deliberate action.
• 坐 (zuò): This character simply means “to sit.” Its ancient form depicts two figures sitting on the earth (土), emphasizing the grounded nature of the action.

The characters combine to mean “to perform the act of sitting,” but the context imbues it with the specific, profound meaning of formal meditation.

打坐 (dǎzuò) is a cornerstone of spiritual practice in China, primarily associated with Chan (Zen) Buddhism (禅 - Chán) and Taoism (道教 - Dàojiào). For monks and serious practitioners, it is not merely a relaxation technique but a path toward self-realization, wisdom (慧 - huì), and enlightenment. A helpful comparison for Western learners is the distinction between “meditation” and 打坐 (dǎzuò). “Meditation” in the West has become a broad term, often encompassing secular mindfulness apps, guided visualizations, or simply listening to calming music. 打坐, however, is more specific and traditional. It strongly implies: 1. A Specific Posture: Usually sitting on a cushion with legs crossed in a full-lotus or half-lotus position (盘腿 - pántuǐ). 2. A Specific Technique: Focusing on the breath and observing thoughts without judgment to achieve a state of deep concentration (入定 - rùdìng). 3. A Spiritual Heritage: It is directly linked to ancient philosophical and religious lineages aimed at understanding the nature of reality and the mind. While a Westerner might say, “I'm meditating” while listening to a guided track on their phone, that would more accurately be called 冥想 (míngxiǎng) in Chinese. 打坐 refers to the unguided, self-disciplined practice of sitting.

While its roots are deeply spiritual, 打坐 is widely understood and increasingly practiced by laypeople in modern China for its health and wellness benefits.

• Health and Wellness: Many people practice 打坐 to reduce stress, improve focus, and calm anxiety. It's seen as a traditional and effective way to 静心 (jìngxīn - quiet the mind) amidst the pressures of modern life. You might hear someone say they practice it in the morning to start their day with a clear head.
• Spiritual Context: In temples or among Buddhist and Taoist followers, the term retains its original, profound spiritual meaning. It is a core part of 修行 (xiūxíng - spiritual cultivation).
• Figurative/Informal Use: Occasionally, someone might use it humorously or figuratively. After a chaotic meeting, a colleague might sigh and say, “我真想去打坐半小时” (Wǒ zhēn xiǎng qù dǎzuò bàn xiǎoshí - I really wish I could go meditate for half an hour), meaning they need to decompress and clear their head.

Example 1:

• 那个和尚每天都在禅房里打坐。
• Pinyin: Nàge héshang měitiān dōu zài chánfáng lǐ dǎzuò.
• English: That monk sits in meditation in the meditation hall every day.
• Analysis: A classic, literal use of the term in its original Buddhist context.

Example 2:

• 为了减轻压力，我开始学习怎么打坐。
• Pinyin: Wèile jiǎnqīng yālì, wǒ kāishǐ xuéxí zěnme dǎzuò.
• English: In order to reduce stress, I started learning how to meditate.
• Analysis: This shows the common modern application of 打坐 for personal wellness.

Example 3:

• 你打坐的时候，需要保持背部挺直。
• Pinyin: Nǐ dǎzuò de shíhòu, xūyào bǎochí bèibù tǐngzhí.
• English: When you are meditating, you need to keep your back straight.
• Analysis: This sentence highlights the focus on physical posture that is integral to the meaning of 打坐.

Example 4:

• 他打坐了整整一个小时，一动也不动。
• Pinyin: Tā dǎzuò le zhěngzhěng yí ge xiǎoshí, yí dòng yě bú dòng.
• English: He meditated for a full hour without moving at all.
• Analysis: The structure “V + 了 + duration” is used to show how long the action of meditating lasted.

Example 5:

• 打坐的目的是为了让内心平静下来。
• Pinyin: Dǎzuò de mùdì shì wèile ràng nèixīn píngjìng xiàlái.
• English: The purpose of sitting meditation is to calm one's inner mind.
• Analysis: This sentence explains the “why” behind the practice, using the common pattern “目的是为了…” (the purpose is to…).

Example 6:

• 爷爷说，打坐对身体健康有好处。
• Pinyin: Yéye shuō, dǎzuò duì shēntǐ jiànkāng yǒu hǎochu.
• English: Grandpa says that sitting in meditation is good for one's health.
• Analysis: Shows the term being used in the context of traditional health wisdom, passed down through generations.

Example 7:

• 我第一次打坐，没过十分钟腿就麻了。
• Pinyin: Wǒ dì yī cì dǎzuò, méi guò shí fēnzhōng tuǐ jiù má le.
• English: The first time I tried meditating, my legs went numb in less than ten minutes.
• Analysis: A relatable sentence for any beginner, describing a common physical challenge of the practice. `麻了 (má le)` means “to become numb.”

Example 8:

• 你觉得打坐和冥想有什么区别？
• Pinyin: Nǐ juéde dǎzuò hé míngxiǎng yǒu shénme qūbié?
• English: What difference do you think there is between dǎzuò and míngxiǎng (meditation)?
• Analysis: This question directly addresses the nuance between the two related terms (see below).

Example 9:

• 在嘈杂的环境里很难静下心来打坐。
• Pinyin: Zài cáozá de huánjìng lǐ hěn nán jìngxiàxīnlái dǎzuò.
• English: It's difficult to quiet your mind and meditate in a noisy environment.
• Analysis: `静下心来 (jìngxiàxīnlái)` is a resultative complement meaning “to succeed in quieting one's mind,” which is a prerequisite for effective 打坐.

Example 10:

• 有些科技公司会为员工提供打坐的房间。
• Pinyin: Yǒuxiē kējì gōngsī huì wèi yuángōng tígōng dǎzuò de fángjiān.
• English: Some tech companies provide rooms for employees to meditate in.
• Analysis: This demonstrates the integration of this traditional practice into modern corporate wellness culture.

• `打坐 (dǎzuò)` vs. `冥想 (míngxiǎng)`: This is the most critical distinction.
  • 打坐 (dǎzuò) is specific: it refers to the physical act of *sitting meditation*, usually cross-legged and unguided. It is the *method*.
  • 冥想 (míngxiǎng) is broad: it is the general, modern term for “meditation.” It can include 打坐, but also covers guided meditation, visualizations, walking meditation, etc. It is the *category*.
  • Mistake: Using 打坐 to describe listening to a meditation app. The correct term would be 冥想. You could say: “我正在用手机App做冥想” (Wǒ zhèngzài yòng shǒujī App zuò míngxiǎng).
• Not Just “Thinking” or “Resting”: 打坐 is an active mental discipline. It is the opposite of letting your mind wander aimlessly or simply resting. A common mistake is to equate it with “zoning out.” The goal is heightened awareness, not mental absence.
  • Incorrect: 我累了，想打坐一下。 (I'm tired, I want to meditate a bit.)
  • Correction: If you mean “rest,” you should say: 我累了，想休息一下 (Wǒ lèi le, xiǎng xiūxi yíxià). If you genuinely mean you want to meditate to restore mental energy, the original sentence is correct, but the intent is different.

• 冥想 (míngxiǎng) - The general, broader term for “meditation,” of which 打坐 is one specific type.
• 禅 (Chán) - Zen. The school of Mahayana Buddhism, originating in China, where 打坐 is the central practice.
• 修行 (xiūxíng) - To cultivate oneself through spiritual or ascetic practice. 打坐 is a primary form of 修行.
• 静心 (jìngxīn) - To quiet one's heart/mind. This is often the immediate goal of 打坐.
• 入定 (rùdìng) - To enter samādhi; a state of deep, unified meditative consciousness. This is the advanced goal of 打坐.
• 盘腿 (pántuǐ) - To sit cross-legged. The typical posture used for 打坐.
• 正念 (zhèngniàn) - Mindfulness (Sati). The state of active, open attention on the present. 打坐 is a key practice for developing 正念.
• 佛教 (Fójiào) - Buddhism. The religious and philosophical tradition from which the practice of 打坐 primarily stems.
• 道教 (Dàojiào) - Taoism. Another major Chinese philosophical tradition that incorporates sitting meditation practices similar to 打坐.