Category: Current Events

Categories
Current Events Theocratic

kèchéng

kèchéng+ (kè·chéng lessons · {journey → [procedure]} → [course; curriculum; (Bible) study] 课程 課程) 👈🏼 Tap/click to show/hide the “flashcard”

[This is an updated version of a post that was originally posted on September 5, 2022.]

[Notes: Tap/click on a Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) expression to reveal its “flashcard”; tap/click on a “flashcard” or its Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) expression to hide the “flashcard”. 📖 📄 ➕ icons mean 📖 Reveal All, 📄 Reveal Advanced, and ➕ Reveal + Symbols re all the “flashcards” in the heading, paragraph, etc. that they are placed at the beginning of.]

This month, September 2026, there is a worldwide campaign featuring the Enjoy Life Forever! brochure. Appropriately, as of this writing, jw.org is featuring the article “Guided Bible Study Course—Enjoy Life Forever!”. The Mandarin version of this article makes use of the expression “kèchéng (kè·chéng lessons · {journey → [procedure]} → [course; curriculum; (Bible) study] 课程 課程)”, perhaps preceded by “Shèngjīng+ (Shèng·jīng Holy · Scriptures → [Bible] 圣经 聖經)”, to correspond with the English expressions “Bible study course”, “course”, and “Bible course”.

Interestingly, “[Shèngjīng (Shèng·jīng Holy · Scriptures → [Bible] 圣经 聖經)] yánjiū (yán·jiū {grinding → [studying]} · {studying carefully} → [study] 研究)”, an expression that has long been used in the past to mean “[Bible] study”, does not appear at all in the above-mentioned article.

Related Expressions

The “kè+ (subject; course; class | lesson 课 課)” in “kèchéng (kè·chéng lessons · {journey → [procedure]} → [course; curriculum; (Bible) study] 课程 課程)” may be familiar to those who have used the Mandarin versions of publications like the Good News brochure and the Enjoy Life Forever! brochure/book, since that is the Mandarin word used to correspond with the English word “lesson”. For example, “Lesson 10” is “Dì‐10 ((Dì [pref to form ordinal numerals] 第)‐(Shí Ten 10) → [10th]) Kè+ (Lesson 课 課)”.

Besides “kèchéng (kè·chéng lessons · {journey → [procedure]} → [course; curriculum; (Bible) study] 课程 課程)”, another word that “kè (subject; course; class | lesson 课 課)” appears in is “kèběn+ (kè·běn {course | lessons} · {root or stem → [mw for books, etc.]} → [textbook; coursebook] 课本 課本)”, which the above-mentioned article uses in reference to the Enjoy Life Forever! book that is now officially recommended for use on Bible studies. (Interestingly, the English version of the article does not use the word “textbook”, which is the main dictionary definition for “kèběn (kè·běn {course | lessons} · {root or stem → [mw for books, etc.]} → [textbook; coursebook] 课本 課本)”. It does, though, refer to the Enjoy Life Forever! book as an “interactive Bible course”. So, “coursebook” may be a better match for “kèběn (kè·běn {course | lessons} · {root or stem → [mw for books, etc.]} → [textbook; coursebook] 课本 課本)” in this case.)

As for the second morpheme in “kèchéng (kè·chéng lessons · {journey → [procedure]} → [course; curriculum; (Bible) study] 课程 課程)”, it is also used, perhaps unexpectedly, in “gōngchéng+ (gōng·chéng work · {journey → [procedure]} → [engineering | [engineering/work] project] 工程)” and in “gōngchéng‐shī+ ((gōng·chéng work · {journeys → [procedures]} → [engineering] 工程)‐(shī master → [skilled person; expert; specialist] 师 師) → [engineer])”.

Usage Examples

Here are a couple of examples of “kèchéng (kè·chéng lessons · {journey → [procedure]} → [course; curriculum; (Bible) study] 课程 課程)” in use, taken from the above-mentioned article:

English:

In this free interactive Bible course, you will get answers to such questions as:

  • How can I find happiness in life?
  • Will evil and suffering ever end?
  • Will I ever see my dead loved ones again?
  • Does God really care about me?
  • How can I pray and be heard by God?

Mandarin:

📖 📄 ➕ Nǐ (you 你) kěyǐ (kě·yǐ can · [suf] 可以) cóng (from 从 從) zhèige (zhèi·ge this · [mw] 这个 這個) miǎnfèi (miǎn·fèi exempting · {costing → [fee]} → [free of charge] 免费 免費) de (’s 的) hùdòng+ (hù·dòng {each other} · moving → [interactive] 互动 互動)‐shì (type 式) Shèngjīng (Shèng·jīng Holy · Scriptures → [Bible] 圣经 聖經) kèchéng (kè·chéng lessons · {journey → [procedure]} → [course] 课程 課程) dédào (dé·dào get · {arriving at} 得到) yǐxià (yǐ·xià at · below’s 以下) wèntí (wèn·tí asking · subjects → [questions] 问题 問題) de (’ 的) dá’àn (dá’·àn answering · {long, narrow tables or desks → [sets of information]} → [answers] 答案):

  • 📖 📄 ➕ Zěnyàng (Zěn·yàng (in) what · {form → [way]} → [how] 怎样 怎樣) cái ({only then} 才 才/纔) néng (can 能) guòshang (guò·shang {(I) pass} · {(to be) upon} 过上 過上) xìngfú+ (xìng·fú fortunate · {(having) blessings} → [happy] 幸福) de (’s 的) shēnghuó (shēng·huó life · living 生活)?
  • 📖 📄 ➕ Èshì (È·shì evil · things 恶事 惡事) hé ({(together) with} → [and] 和 和/龢) tòngkǔ (tòng·kǔ {being in pain} · {being bitter → [suffering]} 痛苦) huì (will 会 會) yǒu (have 有) zhōngzhǐ+ (zhōng·zhǐ ending · stopping 终止 終止) de (’s 的) yì (one 一) tiān (sky → [day] 天) ma ([? ptcl for “yes/no” questions] 吗 嗎)?
  • 📖 📄 ➕ Wǒ (I 我) huì (will 会 會) gēn (with 跟) qùshì+ (qù·shì {have gone from} · {generation → [world]} → [have passed away] 去世) de (’s 的) qīnyǒu (qīn·yǒu relatives · friends 亲友 親友) chóngjù+ (chóng·jù again · meet 重聚) ma ([? ptcl for “yes/no” questions] 吗 嗎)?
  • 📖 📄 ➕ Shàngdì (Shàng·dì Above’s · {Emperor → [God]} → [God] 上帝) guānxīn+ (guān·xīn {does close → [does concern]} · heart (with) → [does care about] 关心 關心) wǒ (me 我) ma ([? ptcl for “yes/no” questions] 吗 嗎)?
  • 📖 📄 ➕ Shàngdì (Shàng·dì Above’s · {Emperor → [God]} → [God] 上帝) huì (will 会 會) tīng (hear 听 聽/听) wǒ de ((wǒ me 我) (de ’s 的) → [my]) dǎogào+ (dǎo·gào prayers · {requestings | tellings} → [prayers] 祷告 禱告) ma ([? ptcl for “yes/no” questions] 吗 嗎)?

English:

You will get the entire course free, including the study guide Enjoy Life Forever! and a Bible if you need one.

Mandarin:

📖 📄 ➕ Zhěnggè (Zhěng·gè entire · [mw] 整个 整個) kèchéng (kè·chéng lessons · {journey → [procedure]} → [course] 课程 課程) hé ({(together) with} → [and] 和 和/龢) kèběn (kè·běn course · {root or stem → [mw for books, etc.]} → [coursebook] 课本 課本) Yǒngyuǎn (Yǒng·yuǎn Eternally · {Far (in Time)} 永远 永遠) Xiǎngshòu (Xiǎng·shòu Enjoy · Receive 享受) Měihǎo (Měi·hǎo Beautiful · Good 美好) de (’s 的) Shēngmìng (Life 生命) dōu (all → [both] 都) shì (are 是) miǎnfèi (miǎn·fèi exempting · {costing → [fee]} → [free of charge] 免费 免費) de ({’s (things)} 的). Nǐ ((if) you 你) xūyào (require 需要) de (’s 的) huà (word 话 話), wǒmen (wǒ·men we · [pl] 我们 我們) yě (also 也) kěyǐ (kě·yǐ can · [suf] 可以) miǎnfèi (miǎn·fèi exempting · {costing → [fee]} → [free of charge] 免费 免費) tígōng (tí·gōng {carry (hanging down from the hand) → [raise]} · provide 提供) yì (one 一) běn ({root or stem of a} → [mw for books, etc.] 本) Shèngjīng (Shèng·jīng Holy · Scriptures → [Bible] 圣经 聖經) gěi ({to be given to} 给 給) nǐ (you 你).

For convenience:

The direct link for the Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音)+ resource for the Enjoy Life Forever! brochure is:

The short link for Chinese field language-learning links for the Enjoy Life Forever! brochure is:

Categories
Current Events Theocratic

jīngjì

jīngjì+ (jīng·jì {managing [of]} · {crossing [of] a river → [helping]} → [economy | [is] economical | economic | financial condition] 经济 經濟) 👈🏼 Tap/click to show/hide the “flashcard”

[Notes: Tap/click on a Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) expression to reveal its “flashcard”; tap/click on a “flashcard” or its Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) expression to hide the “flashcard”. 📖 📄 ➕ icons mean 📖 Reveal All, 📄 Reveal Advanced, and ➕ Reveal + Symbols re all the “flashcards” in the heading, paragraph, etc. that they are placed at the beginning of.]

At the time of this writing, jw.org was featuring an article from the No. 1 2026 issue of The Watchtower, with the title “Can Economic Reform Bring World Peace?”. By comparing the English version of this issue with the Mandarin version, we can see that the organization is using this week’s MEotW, “jīngjì (jīng·jì {managing [of]} · {crossing [of] a river → [helping]} → [economy | [is] economical | economic | financial condition] 经济 經濟)”, to correspond to the English word “economic”:

English:

Can Economic Reform Bring World Peace?

Mandarin:

📖 📄 ➕ Fāzhǎn+ (Fā·zhǎn {Sending Out → [Developing]} · {Opening Up} → [Developing] 发展 發展) Jīngjì (Jīng·jì {Managing of} · {Crossing of a River → [Helping]} → [the Economy] 经济 經濟) Néng (Can 能) Dàilái (Dài·lái Bring · {to Come} 带来 帶來) Hépíng (Hé·píng {Being (Together) with (One Another)} · {Being Flat, Level, Even} → [Peace (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict)] 和平) Ma ([? ptcl for “yes/no” questions] 吗 嗎)?

Morphemic Breakdown

The “jīng ({pass through; undergo; experience [→ [bear; endure]]} | manage; {deal/engage in} | scripture; canon; classics | constant; regular | {warp (textiles)} [→ [longitude]] 经 經)” in “jīngjì (jīng·jì {managing [of]} · {crossing [of] a river → [helping]} → [economy | [is] economical | economic | financial condition] 经济 經濟)” has multiple possible meanings, several of which were discussed in the MEotW post on “lìjīng (lì·jīng {go through}; experience; undergo · {pass through; undergo; experience [→ [bear; endure]]} 历经 歷經)”. In “jīngjì (jīng·jì {managing [of]} · {crossing [of] a river → [helping]} → [economy | [is] economical | economic | financial condition] 经济 經濟)”, it seems to have its old but still current meaning of “managing [of]”.

As for the “jì ({cross [a river]} [→ [aid; relieve; help | benefit]] 济 濟)” in “jīngjì (jīng·jì {managing [of]} · {crossing [of] a river → [helping]} → [economy | [is] economical | economic | financial condition] 经济 經濟)”, in this expression it seems to have a literal meaning of “crossing [of] a river”, and an effective meaning of “helping”.

Together, the morphemes in “jīngjì (jīng·jì {managing [of]} · {crossing [of] a river → [helping]} → [economy | [is] economical | economic | financial condition] 经济 經濟)” seem to on one level of literalness mean “managing of helping”, effectively having meanings related to “economy” or “economic”. (Be careful not to confuse “jīngjì (jīng·jì {managing [of]} · {crossing [of] a river → [helping]} → [economy | [is] economical | economic | financial condition] 经济 經濟)” with past MEotW “zhèngzhì+ (zhèng·zhì {politics | political} · governing [→ [politics | political]] 政治)”, which basically means “politics” or “political”.)

More Usage Examples

Here are a couple more examples taken from the above-mentioned Watchtower article, of “jīngjì (jīng·jì {managing [of]} · {crossing [of] a river → [helping]} → [economy | [is] economical | economic | financial condition] 经济 經濟)” in use:

English:

Can economic reform truly address conflicts that are driven by nationalism, religious extremism, or political divisions?

Mandarin:

📖 📄 ➕ Fāzhǎn (Fā·zhǎn {sending out → [developing]} · {opening up} → [developing] 发展 發展) jīngjì (jīng·jì {managing of} · {crossing of a river → [helping]} → [the economy] 经济 經濟) jiù (then 就) néng (can 能) xiāochú (xiāo·chú eliminate · {get rid of} 消除) guójiā zhǔyì+ ((guó·jiā nation · family → [nation] 国家 國家) (zhǔ·yì master · meaning → [-ism] 主义 主義) → [nationalism]), zōngjiào+ (zōng·jiào {school of thought} · teaching → [religious] 宗教) jíduān zhǔyì ((jí·duān extreme · extremity → [extreme] 极端 極端) (zhǔ·yì master · meaning → [-ism] 主义 主義) → [extremism]), zhèngzhì+ (zhèng·zhì political · governing → [political] 政治) fēnqí (fēn·qí divided · branches → [disagreements] 分), děng (kind → [etc.] 等) dǎozhì (dǎo·zhì lead · {to extend to} 导致 導致) chōngtū+ (chōng·tū {dashings → [clashings]} · {chimneys → [dashings forward]} → [conflicts] 冲突 衝突) de (’ 的) yuányīn (yuán·yīn origins · causes 原因) ma ([? ptcl for “yes/no” questions] 吗 嗎)?

English:

Economic reforms cannot eliminate human greed. The Bible explains that true peace will come when people are taught God’s ways and not because of trade deals or economic reforms.

Mandarin:

📖 📄 ➕ Jīngjì (Jīng·jì {managing of} · {crossing of a river → [helping]} → [the economy] 经济 經濟) fāzhǎn (fā·zhǎn {sends out → [develops]} · {opens up} → [develops] 发展 發展) de (getting 得) zài (more 再) hǎo ({to be well} 好), yě (also 也) bùnéng (bù·néng not · can → [cannot] 不能) xiāochú (xiāo·chú eliminate · {get rid of} 消除) rén (humans 人) de (’ 的) tānyù+ (tān·yù {insatiably desiring} · desiring → [greed] 贪欲 貪欲/慾), zhōngzhǐ (zhōng·zhǐ end · stop 终止 終止) zhànzhēng (zhàn·zhēng wars · contendings → [wars] 战争 戰爭). Shèngjīng (Shèng·jīng (the) Holy · Scriptures → [the Bible] 圣经 聖經) shuō (says 说 說/説), suǒyǒu (suǒ·yǒu {(all) whom} · {(there) are having → [(there) are]} → [all] 所有) rén (people 人) dōu (all 都) jiēshòu (jiē·shòu {come into contact with → [receive]} · receive → [receive] 接受) Shàngdì (Shàng·dì Above’s · {Emperor → [God]} → [God] 上帝) de (’s 的) jiàoyù+ (jiào·yù teaching · educating → [education] 教育), shìjiè (shì·jiè {generation → [world]} · extent → [world] 世界) cái ({only then} 才 才/纔) huì (will 会 會) hépíng (hé·píng {be (together) with (one another)} · {be flat, level, even} → [be peaceful (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict)] 和平).

Categories
Current Events Theocratic

shìjiè hépíng

shìjiè+ (shì·jiè {generation → [world]} · extent → [world] 世界)
hépíng+ (hé·píng {being (together) with (one another)} · {being flat, level, even} → [peace (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict)] 和平) 👈🏼 Tap/click to show/hide the “flashcard”

[Notes: Tap/click on a Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) expression to reveal its “flashcard”; tap/click on a “flashcard” or its Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) expression to hide the “flashcard”. 📖 📄 ➕ icons mean 📖 Reveal All, 📄 Reveal Advanced, and ➕ Reveal + Symbols re all the “flashcards” in the heading, paragraph, etc. that they are placed at the beginning of.]

At the time of this writing, jw.org was featuring the No. 1 2026 issue of The Watchtower, the theme of which is “Is World Peace Possible?”. By comparing the English version of this issue with the Mandarin version, we can see that the organization is using this week’s MEotW, “shìjiè (shì·jiè {generation → [world]} · extent → [world] 世界) hépíng (hé·píng {being (together) with (one another)} · {being flat, level, even} → [peace (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict)] 和平)”, to translate the English expression “world peace” into Mandarin:

English:

Is World Peace Possible?

World peace is possible. In fact, it is a certainty—but not in the way you might expect.

Mandarin:

📖 📄 ➕ Shìjiè (Shì·jiè {Generation → [World]} · Extent → [World] 世界) Hépíng (Hé·píng {Being (Together) with (One Another)} · {Being Flat, Level, Even} → [Peace (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict)] 和平) Zhǐshì (Zhǐ·shì Only · Is 只是) Mèng ({a Dream} 梦 夢) Ma ([? ptcl for “yes/no” questions] 吗 嗎)?

📖 📄 ➕ Shìjiè (Shì·jiè {generation → [world]} · extent → [the world] 世界) yídìng (yí·dìng {(with) one} · {setting fixedly} → [definitely] 一定) huì (will 会 會) hépíng (hé·píng {be (together) with (one another)} · {be flat, level, even} → [be peaceful (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict)] 和平), dàn (but 但) shíxiàn+ (shí·xiàn (it) {solidly → [really]} · {will appear} → [(it) will come true] 实现 實現) de (’s 的) fāngshì (fāng·shì direction · style → [way] 方式) yěxǔ (yě·xǔ {on the whole} · maybe 也许 也許) shì ({will be} 是) nǐ (you 你) xiǎng‐budào+ ((xiǎng {thinking of} 想)‐(bu·dào not · {are arriving at} 不到) → [are not expecting]) de ({’s (way)} 的)!

A Specific Kind of Peace

“Shìjiè (Shì·jiè {generation → [world]} · extent → [world] 世界)” effectively means “world”, and as Appendix A2 of the Mandarin New World Translation Bible tells us, “hépíng (hé·píng {[is/being] (together) with (one another)} · {[is/being] flat, level, even} → [peace | [is] peaceful | peacefully (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict)] 和平)” mainly refers to a specific kind of peace: the absence of war or conflict. So, it is the appropriate Mandarin expression to use to refer to the kind of peace that people generally have in mind when they use the English expression “world peace”.

Other Kinds of Peace

Past MEotW posts have discussed the Mandarin expressions used to refer to other kinds of peace, as discussed in Appendix A2 of the Mandarin New World Translation Bible. For example, the MEotW post on “ānníng ({being peaceful}; {being tranquil} [→ [peace; tranquillity]] 安宁 安寧)” has this to say:

Appendix A2 of the current Mandarin version of the New World Translation Bible (nwtsty) explains that “hépíng (peace | {[is] peaceful} (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict) 和平)” mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict. However, even in a situation in which there is no hépíng (peace | {[is] peaceful} (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict) 和平), God’s holy spirit can still help people to maintain the spiritual quality of ānníng ({being peaceful}; {being tranquil} 安宁 安寧) in their hearts—inner peace.

As for the MEotW post on “hémù ({[is] harmonious} [→ [harmony; peaceful relations]] 和睦)”, it says:

Appendix A2 of the current Mandarin version of the New World Translation Bible (nwtsty) explains that “hépíng (peace | {[is] peaceful} (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict) 和平)” mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict. In contrast, “hémù ({[is] harmonious} 和睦)” is used here in a more positive and precise way to refer to the peaceful harmony and unity that the Christ makes possible for “shuāngfāng+ (shuāng·fāng (the) two · {directions → [parties]} 双方 雙方)”, “the two groups”, Jews and non-Jews.

Additionally, the MEotW post on “héxié ({[is] harmonious} [→ [harmony]] 和谐 和諧)” says:

Why doesn’t the Mandarin translation use good old “píng’ān (píng’·ān {[is] flat, level, even → [[is] peaceful]} · {[is] safe, secure} (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to things being smooth and stable, safe and secure, free of danger) 平安)” or “hépíng (peace | {[is] peaceful} (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict) 和平)” to translate “peace” in this verse? Appendix A2 of the current Mandarin version of the New World Translation Bible (nwtsty) explains that “píng’ān (píng’·ān {[is] flat, level, even → [[is] peaceful]} · {[is] safe, secure} (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to things being smooth and stable, safe and secure, free of danger) 平安)” mainly refers to things being smooth and stable, safe and secure, free of danger, and that “hépíng (peace | {[is] peaceful} (nwtsty-CHS Appx. A2 says this term mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict) 和平)” mainly refers to the absence of war or conflict. These are specific aspects of peace that don’t necessarily apply in every context.

We can see that those who translated the current Mandarin NWT Bible felt that the context of 1 Corinthians 14:33, which discusses who should speak when during meetings for spiritual encouragement, calls for “héxié+ ({[is] harmonious} 和谐 和諧)” to be used in this verse to translate the Greek word ei·reʹne, since the harmony that “héxié ({[is] harmonious} 和谐 和諧)” refers to contrasts well with the dissonance and disorder that would result if a meeting degenerated into a free-for-all of people speaking whenever and however they pleased.