shìsú

shìsú (shì·sú {generation’s → [world’s]} · customs | {(of the) generation → [world]} · secular | {generation → [world]} · {secular (world)} 世俗) ← Tap/click to show/hide the “flashcard”

Appendix A2 of the English New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition), entitled “Features of This Revision”, discusses vocabulary changes that have been made in the current revision, words that have been translated differently than before. As noted in various entries in the excellent resource Referenced Theo. Expressions (RTE), Appendix A2 of the current Mandarin version of the New World Translation Bible (nwtsty) correspondingly discusses words that have been translated differently in the current revision of the Mandarin NWT Bible, compared to how they had been translated before.

Since we base what we say in Jehovah’s service on his Word the Bible, the vocabulary used in it—and the way those vocabulary words are translated—should be reflected in how we speak in our ministry, at our meetings, etc. So, it is beneficial for us Mandarin field language learners to be familiar with the latest thinking from the organization on how Bible terms should be translated into Mandarin.

Referring to “Flesh” in Mandarin

For a long time, we in the Mandarin field had been using the Mandarin word “ròutǐ (ròu·tǐ {(of) flesh} · body (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 notes change from “ròutǐ” to “shìsú”, “zuìxìng”, etc.) 肉体 肉體)” to correspond with the English word “flesh”. However, Appendix A2 of the current Mandarin version of the New World Translation Bible (nwtsty) points out that not only can the word “ròutǐ (ròu·tǐ {(of) flesh} · body (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 notes change from “ròutǐ” to “shìsú”, “zuìxìng”, etc.) 肉体 肉體)” be hard to understand, it can also make people think a scripture is exclusively referring to things related to sexual desires. So, the current revision of the Mandarin NWT Bible (nwtsty) instead uses expressions with clearer meanings, with the context determining which expression is used.

One example that the appendix provides is that 1 Corinthians 3:1 (Mandarin NWT (nwtsty)) now uses “shìsú (shì·sú {generation’s → [world’s]} · customs | {(of the) generation → [world]} · secular | {generation → [world]} · {secular (world)} 世俗)”, this week’s MEotW, instead of “ròutǐ (ròu·tǐ {(of) flesh} · body (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 notes change from “ròutǐ” to “shìsú”, “zuìxìng”, etc.) 肉体 肉體)”:

In this verse, the apostle Paul was pointing out that he was not able to speak to the Corinthian brothers as to “spiritual men”. Instead, he had to speak to them as to those who lacked godliness, or spirituality. So, it is appropriate to say in Mandarin that Paul had to speak to them as to “yǒu (having 有) shìsú (shì·sú {(of the) generation → [world]} · secular 世俗) sīxiǎng (thinking 思想) de (’s 的) rén (men 人)”, men having worldly, secular (Wordnik: “worldly rather than spiritual”) thinking.—1 Corinthians 3:1 (English NWT (nwtsty)).