杂念 (zá niàn) — distracting thoughts; mental distractions; wandering thoughts
Definition
Literally 'mixed/miscellaneous thoughts': stray, intrusive thoughts that pull the mind away from the task or practice at hand. Often used in meditation, study, or spiritual contexts, paired with 排除 ('clear away') or 毫无 ('without any').
noun
distracting thoughtsmental distractionswandering thoughts
Examples
- 杂念，。Dǎ zuò shí yào pái chú yí qiè zá niàn, cái néng rù dìng.When meditating, you must eliminate all distracting thoughts to enter a state of concentration.
- 杂念，。Tā xīn zhōng háo wú zá niàn, yì xīn zhī xiǎng wán chéng rèn wu.He had no distracting thoughts in his mind and focused solely on completing the task.
- 杂念，。Gōng zuò de shí hou bú yào yǒu zá niàn, fǒu zé róng yì chū cuò.Don't have distracting thoughts while working, or you'll easily make mistakes.
Appears in
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