mantra

/ˈmæntrə/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɑːntrə/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmän-trə also ˈman- or ˈmən-/ (ame, mw)

mantra — noun

  • mantrasingular
  • mantrasplural

1. a short phrase or statement that people repeat so often it comes to stand for on

1.名詞B2
釋義

a short phrase or statement that people repeat so often it comes to stand for one of their core beliefs or goals.

例句

The company's new mantra is 'work smarter, not harder,' and everyone repeats it in meetings.

organizational mantra

Chidi repeats the words 'stay calm and keep going' whenever a test feels difficult.

同義詞
  • slogan

    more tied to advertising, politics, or group branding; less personal than mantra

  • motto

    a concise principle that guides behaviour — more formal and less emotionally charged than mantra

  • catchphrase

    a memorable phrase associated with a person or character, often from entertainment rather than deep belief

反義詞
  • silence

    the absence of any repeated message or guiding phrase

文法句型

possessive + mantra

[person/group]'s mantra

mantra + be + statement

用法筆記

Often appears in business, sports, or self-improvement contexts. Distinguish from sense 2 (SACRED CHANT), which refers specifically to religious or spiritual chanting.

常見錯誤

❌His mantra is to brush his teeth every night.' (a daily habit, not a belief).
✅The team's mantra is to never give up, no matter the score.
💡a mantra expresses a core belief or guiding principle, not just any routine.

2. a sacred word, sound, or short phrase that people repeat silently during meditat

2.名詞B2
釋義

a sacred word, sound, or short phrase that people repeat silently during meditation because they believe it holds spiritual power or helps them find peace.

例句

Every morning before work, Kenji sits cross-legged and repeats his favourite mantra.

collocation: repeat + mantra

Élise learned a mantra from her grandmother that she whispers whenever she feels worried.

同義詞
  • chant

    focuses more on the vocal repetition and rhythm than on spiritual meaning

  • prayer

    broader — a prayer can be any communication with a higher power, not necessarily a repeated word or sound

  • incantation

    suggests magical or ritual use, often with the goal of causing a specific effect

文法句型

chant/repeat/say + mantra

possessive + mantra

常見錯誤

❌I have a morning mantra to drink more water.' (trivial daily habit).
✅I have a meditation mantra that I repeat to stay calm.
💡a mantra carries spiritual or emotional weight, not just any repeated routine.