Category: History

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Current Events History Science Technology Theocratic

néngyuán

néngyuán+ (néng·yuán energy · {source (of a river)} → [energy [source]] 能源) 👈🏼 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 is featuring the article “Meeting Mankind’s Energy Needs—What the Bible Says”. This week’s MEotW, “néngyuán (néng·yuán energy · {source (of a river)} → [energy [source]] 能源), occurs often in the Mandarin version of this article, including in the title:

English:

Meeting Mankind’s Energy Needs—What the Bible Says

Mandarin:

📖 📄 ➕ Néngyuán+ (néng·yuán Energy · {Sources (of Rivers)} → [Energy [Sources]] 能源) Kùnjú+ (Kùn·jú {Surrounded → [Hard-Pressed]} · Situation 困局) Yǒu ({Will Have} 有) Jiějué (Jiě·jué {Being Untied → [Being Solved]} · {Being Decided} → [Being Resolved] 解决 解決) de (’s 的) Yì (One 一) Tiān (Sky → [Day] 天) ma ([? ptcl for “yes/no” questions] 吗 嗎)? Shèngjīng (Shèng·jīng (the) Holy · Scriptures → [the Bible] 圣经 聖經) de (’s 的) Guāndiǎn (Guān·diǎn {Looking at → [View]} · Point → [Viewpoint] 观点 觀點) Shì (Is 是) Shénme (Shén·me What · [suf] 什么 什/甚麼)?

The Importance of Energy

That the current fighting in the Middle East around the Strait of Hormuz is driving up gas prices in many places is undoubtedly a big reason why the above-mentioned article is being featured on jw.org at this time. Yes, energy is more than just an abstract scientific concept.

In physics, energy is defined as “the capacity for doing work”, which in turn involves applying force to move something a certain distance. So, practically speaking, energy provides the ability to move physical things, like our cars. And since heat is connected to temperature, which “reflects the average kinetic energy of the particles in a system”, energy also provides the ability to heat things, like our homes. (By the way, in physics, “power is defined as the rate of producing or consuming energy.”)

Looking back in history, oil—along with other fossil fuels still the dominant source of energy down to this day, in spite of increasing use of clean energy—was a big factor in why Japan attacked Pearl Harbour in 1941, and in why Nazi Germany ultimately lost to the Allies in World War II.

Coming back to the present day, besides gas prices being driven up by the ongoing fighting in the Middle East, another reason why energy is now of concern to many is that oodles and gobs of energy are needed to train and operate artificial intelligence (AI) models, which are increasingly being hyped and used by many.

Another Usage Example

Regarding “néngyuán (néng·yuán energy · {source (of a river)} → [energy [source]] 能源)”, note that its morphemes literally mean “energy · source (of a river)”. However, the expression as a whole is at times used to effectively mean just “energy”.

To help Mandarin field language learners get more of a feel for how to use this expression, here is another usage example, taken from the above-mentioned jw.org article:

English:

Challenge: international conflict. Some regions are rich in energy resources, but they suffer from wars, conflicts, and disputes over territory. And when conflicts disrupt supply chains for oil or gas, many people face shortages and higher prices.

The Bible says: “Jehovah…is bringing an end to wars throughout the earth.”—Psalm 46:8, 9.

Jehovah God will eliminate conflict and wars.

Mandarin:

📖 📄 ➕ Zǔ’ài (Zǔ’·ài obstructing · hindering (thing) → [obstacle] 阻碍 阻礙): guójì (guó·jì nations · {boundaries → [among]} → [international] 国际 國際) jiān (among 间 間/閑) de (’s 的) chōngtū+ (chōng·tū {dashings → [clashings]} · {chimneys → [chargings]} → [conflicts] 冲突 衝突). Yǒuxiē (Yǒu·xiē {(there) are having → [(there) are]} · some 有些) dìqū (dì·qū lands · regions 地区 地區) yōngyǒu (yōng·yǒu {holding in their arms} · having → [having] 拥有 擁有) chōngzú (chōng·zú filled · ample 充足) de (’s 的) shíyóu (shí·yóu rock · oil → [oil] 石油) hé ({(together) with} → [and] 和 和/龢) tiānrán (tiān·rán {(of) heaven → [natural]} · so → [natural] 天然)‐qì (gas 气 氣/气), dànshì (dàn·shì but · {(it) is (the case that)} 但是) yīnwei (yīn·wei {because of} · {on account of} 因为 因為) zhànzhēng (zhàn·zhēng wars · contendings → [wars] 战争 戰爭), chōngtū (chōng·tū {dashings → [clashings]} · {chimneys → [chargings]} → [conflicts] 冲突 衝突), lǐngtǔ (lǐng·tǔ {neck → [collar] → [have jurisdiction over]} · {soil → [land]} → [territory] 领土 領土) jiūfēn+ (jiū·fēn (things) {being entangled in} · {being tangled} → [disputes] 纠纷 糾紛), dǎozhì (dǎo·zhì {(these) lead} · {to extend to} 导致 導致) néngyuán (néng·yuán energy · {source (of a river)} → [energy [source]] 能源) gōngyìng+ (gōng·yìng supplying · {responding (to the needs/requests)} → [supply] 供应 供應) liàn+ (chains 链 鏈) shòudào (shòu·dào {being subjected to} · {arriving at} 受到) yǐngxiǎng (yǐng·xiǎng relfection · sound → [being affected] 影响 影響). Jiéguǒ (Jié·guǒ {tied (into a knot) → [formed]} · fruit → [as a result] 结果 結果), hěn (very 很) duō (many 多) rén (people 人) miànlín (miàn·lín face · {are near to} 面临 面臨) néngyuán (néng·yuán energy · {source (of a river)} → [energy [source]] 能源) duǎnquē (duǎn·quē {being short → [being lacking]} · {being lacking} → [shortages] 短缺) huòzhě (huò·zhě or · [suf] 或者) néngyuán (néng·yuán energy · {source (of a river)} → [energy [source]] 能源) jiàgé (jià·gé price · {grid → [pattern]} → [prices] 价格 價格) shàngzhǎng+ (shàng·zhǎng upward · {rising (of water/prices/etc.)} 上涨 上漲) de (’s 的) wèntí (wèn·tí asking · problems → [problems] 问题 問題).

📖 📄 ➕ Shèngjīng (Shèng·jīng (the) Holy · Scriptures → [the Bible] 圣经 聖經) shuō (says 说 說/説): “Yēhéhuá (Jehovah 耶和华 耶和華)…zhōngzhǐ (zhōng·zhǐ {is ending} · {is halting} 终止 終止) zhànzhēng (zhàn·zhēng wars · contendings → [wars] 战争 戰爭), píngdìng+ (píng·dìng {is making to be flat, level, even → [is making to be peaceful]} · {is making to be settled → [is making to be calm]} 平定) tiānxià (tiān·xià heaven · under → [the whole world] 天下)” (Shīpiān (Shī·piān {Sacred Song} · {Piece of Writing} → [Psalm] 诗篇 詩篇) 46:8, 9)

📖 📄 ➕ Yēhéhuá (Jehovah 耶和华 耶和華) huì (will 会 會) xiāochú+ (xiāo·chú eliminate · {get rid of} 消除) zhànzhēng (zhàn·zhēng wars · contendings → [wars] 战争 戰爭) hé ({(together) with} → [and] 和 和/龢) chōngtū (chōng·tū {dashings → [clashings]} · {chimneys → [chargings]} → [conflicts] 冲突 衝突).

Jehovah’s Energy

Yes, Jehovah can and will resolve the issues the world is facing involving energy. Regarding the sheer amount of energy that Jehovah has at his disposal, a past MEotW post said:

As an example of just how powerful Jehovah’s holy spirit is even compared to humans’ nuclear bombs, according to my research and calculations, every day, the sun, produced with power from the holy spirit, puts out the energy of almost 8 quadrillion (1015) 1-megaton nuclear bombs. (A single 1-megaton nuclear bomb would release about 67 times the amount of energy released by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.) And according to NASA, “it turns out that our Sun is an average-sized star. There are bigger stars, and there are smaller stars. We have found stars that are 100 times bigger in diameter than our sun.”

And of course, as we who have gotten to know Jehovah have learned, Jehovah God is far from being all muscle and no brains or heart or conscience. In addition to having unlimited power, we can rest assured that he also has the wisdom, the justice, and most importantly, the love required to best beneficially use all that power and energy—he is truly the ultimate Néngyuán+ (Néng·yuán Energy · {Source (of a River)} → [Energy Source] 能源)!

Categories
Culture Experiences History Language Learning Science Theocratic

záluàn‐wú‐zhāng

záluàn+ (zá·luàn miscellaneous; mixed · {in disorder}; chaotic; random; arbitrary → [disorderly; mixed; in a jumble/mess; chaotic] 杂乱 雜亂)‐wú+ ({not having}; without; no 无 無/无)‐zhāng+ (sections [→ [order | rules; regulation; constitution | composition; structure; system; pattern]] 章) 👈🏼 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.]

We in the Mandarin field should keep in mind that many Mandarin-speaking people were taught to believe in evolution, and thus tend to not believe in God. The Shēngmìng Láizì Chuàngzào Ma? ((Shēngmìng Life 生命) (Lái·zì Came · From 来自 來自) (Chuàng·zào Initiating · {Making, Creating} → [Creating] 创造 創造) (Ma [? ptcl for “yes/no” questions] 吗 嗎)? → [Was Life Created? (lc)]) (Was Life Created? (lc)) brochure and the Shēngmìng de Qǐyuán—Zhíde Sīkǎo de Wǔ Ge Wèntí ((Shēngmìng Life 生命) (de ’s 的) (Qǐ·yuán {Rising → [Starting]} · Source → [Origin] 起源/原)—(Zhí·de Worth · Getting → [Worth] 值得) (Sī·kǎo {Thinking About} · Examining 思考) (de ’s 的) (Wǔ Five 五) (Ge [mw] 个 個/个) (Wèn·tí Asking · Subjects → [Questions] 问题 問題) → [The Origin of Life—Five Questions Worth Asking (lf)]) (The Origin of Life—Five Questions Worth Asking (lf)) brochure were originally published back in 2010, but they are still considered current publications, and relatively recently, the English version of the Was Life Created? brochure was updated to the December 2022 Printing, and the Mandarin version of it was updated to the February 2023 Printing. So, it would be good for us to consider some of the expressions used in the Mandarin versions of the Was Life Created? and Origin of Life brochures, which can be so helpful when discussing the fundamentally important question of whether life was created.

Not Haphazard

This week’s MEotW, “záluàn (zá·luàn miscellaneous; mixed · {in disorder}; chaotic; random; arbitrary → [disorderly; mixed; in a jumble/mess; chaotic] 杂乱 雜亂)‐wú ({not having}; without; no 无 無/无)‐zhāng (sections [→ [order | rules; regulation; constitution | composition; structure; system; pattern]] 章)”, occurs in paragraph 12 of the QUESTION 2 section of the Origin of Life brochure, which section is entitled, in English, “Is Any Form of Life Really Simple?”:

English:

Imagine that you have been allowed past the “security guard” and are now inside the cell. The interior of a prokaryotic cell is filled with a watery fluid that is rich in nutrients, salts, and other substances. The cell uses these raw ingredients to manufacture the products it needs. But the process is not haphazard. Like an efficiently run factory, the cell organizes thousands of chemical reactions so that they take place in a specific order and according to a set timetable.

Mandarin (WOL, Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus):

📖 📄 ➕ Jiǎshè (Jiǎ·shè {being artificial} · {set up} → [suppose] 假设 假設) nǐ (you 你) dédào (dé·dào {have gotten} · {arriving at} 得到) “ménwèi (mén·wèi door/entrance · {guarding (person’s)} 门卫 門衛)” yǔnxǔ (permitting 允许 允許), kěyǐ (kě·yǐ {are able} · [suf] 可以) jìnrù ({to enter} 进入 進入) xìbāo (xì·bāo tiny · womb → [cell] 细胞 細胞) “gōngchǎng (gōng·chǎng work · factory → [factory] 工厂 工廠)” le ([(at the end of a phrase/sentence) indicates a change] 了). Nǐ (you 你) huì (will 会 會) fāxiàn (fā·xiàn {send out → [develop]} · {appearing of} → [find] 发现/见 發現/見) yuánhé+ (yuán·hé primitive · {pit (of a fruit) → [nucleus]} → [prokaryotic] 原核) xìbāo (xì·bāo tiny · womb → [cell] 细胞 細胞) nèi (inside 内 內) mǎn ({filled with} 满 滿) shì (is 是) xiàng (like 像/象) shuǐ (water 水) yíyàng (yí·yàng {(of) one} · form → [the same] 一样 一樣) de (’s 的) yètǐ+ (yè·tǐ fluid · {bodies → [substances]} → [fluids] 液体 液體), zhèixiē (zhèi·xiē this · {indefinite number of} → [these] 这些 這些) yètǐ (yè·tǐ fluid · {bodies → [substances]} → [fluids] 液体 液體) hányǒu (hán·yǒu {hold in the mouth → [contain]} · have 含有) fēngfù (fēng·fù rich · abundant 丰富 豐富) de (’s 的) yǎngfèn+ (yǎng·fèn supporting · components → [nutrients] 养分 養分), yán (salts 盐 鹽), hé ({(together) with} → [and] 和 和/龢) qítā (qí·tā them · otherwise’s → [other] 其他) wùzhì (wù·zhì matter · substances → [substances] 物质 物質). Xìbāo (Xì·bāo tiny · womb → [cell] 细胞 細胞) yòng (uses 用) zhèixiē (zhèi·xiē this · {indefinite number of} → [these] 这些 這些) “yuán+ (original → [raw] 原) cáiliào (cái·liào {timber → [material]} · materials → [materials] 材料)” zhìzào (zhì·zào {to manufacture} · {to make} → [to manufacture] 制造 製造) suǒxū (suǒ·xū {those which} · {are needed} 所需) de (’s 的) dōngxi (dōng·xi easts · wests → [things] 东西 東西), dàn (but 但) guòchéng (guò·chéng {to be passed through} · {journey → [procedure]} → [process] 过程 過程) bìng (definitely 并 並/竝/并) bú (not 不) shì (is 是) záluàn+ (zá·luàn mixed · random → [disorderly] 杂乱 雜亂)‐wú (without 无 無/无)‐zhāng (sections → [structure] 章) de ({’s (process)} 的). Xìbāo (Xì·bāo tiny · womb → [cell] 细胞 細胞) hǎoxiàng (hǎo·xiàng {well → [very much]} · {is like} 好像/象) yùnzuò (yùn·zuò transports · does → [operates] 运作 運作) shùnchàng+ (shùn·chàng {being following → [being suiting]} · {being smooth} → [smoothly] 顺畅 順暢) de (’s 的) gōngchǎng (gōng·chǎng work · factory → [factory] 工厂 工廠) nàyàng (nà·yàng that · {form → [way]} 那样 那樣), zài (in 在) xìbāo (xì·bāo tiny · womb → [cell] 细胞 細胞) li (inside 里 裡/裏) jìnxíng (jìn·xíng {are advanced} · {are walked → [are carried out]} 进行 進行) de (’s 的) wúshù (wú·shù without · number 无数 無數) huàxué+ (huà·xué {transforming → [chemistry]} · studying → [chemical] 化学 化學) fǎnyìng (fǎn·yìng {in the reverse direction} · respondings → [reactions] 反应 反應) quándōu (quán·dōu completely · all 全都) ànshí (àn·shí {according to} · {(particular) times} → [on schedule] 按时 按時) jìnxíng (jìn·xíng {are advanced} · {are walked → [are carried out]} 进行 進行), érqiě (ér·qiě and · moreover 而且) jǐngrán+ (jǐng·rán {are orderly} · {are correct} 井然)‐yǒuxù+ (yǒu·xù {are having} · sequence 有序).

In the above examples, “záluàn (zá·luàn miscellaneous; mixed · {in disorder}; chaotic; random; arbitrary → [disorderly; mixed; in a jumble/mess; chaotic] 杂乱 雜亂)‐wú ({not having}; without; no 无 無/无)‐zhāng (sections [→ [order | rules; regulation; constitution | composition; structure; system; pattern]] 章) is used to translate the English word “haphazard”. Yes, in contrast to the haphazard mess that any system generated by random chance would be (if anything even resembling a system gets generated at all), the system inside our cells for manufacturing needed products actually operates with a very high degree of organization, orderliness, and efficiency. This is strong evidence that our cells were actually not produced by the random processes of evolution, but rather, by an organized and orderly intelligent Creator.

Haphazard, Not Haphazard

Of particular interest to Mandarin field language learners, if we look at Chinese characters, which were designed by imperfect humans, it would be fair to describe the way they were designed as being haphazard, even compared to other human-designed systems. For example, the book The Chinese Language: Fact and Fantasy, on page 111, says:

Comparatively speaking, the Japanese syllabaries are quite simple and efficient. Their forty-seven symbols do a reasonably good job of representing the sound system of Japanese with its mere 113 different syllables. In contrast, the Chinese syllabary, which must cope with a far more complex syllabic system (3,877 syllables in earlier Chinese and 1,277 in current standard Chinese if tones are included, 398 if tones are excluded), is not only appallingly large but also quite unstandardized and hence extremely inefficient—all this of course due to the fact that it has not been manipulated and refined like the Japanese syllabaries but throughout its history right down to today has evolved in a more or less haphazard manner.

One of the ways in which Chinese characters are relatively haphazard is in how they represent their pronunciations. Even though many characters have phonetic (relating to speech sounds) elements that supposedly relate to how they are to be pronounced, ultimately, there is no consistent, overall system such that if a character is like this, then its pronunciation must thus be that—if you bump into a Chinese character that you never learned, or that you learned but forgot (this character amnesia actually happens all the time, even to experienced native Mandarin speakers), then ultimately you can only guess at how to pronounce it!

Speaking of phonetic elements, characters are so old that the phonetic elements of characters that have them may actually be based on old pronunciations that are different from the modern day pronunciations that these phonetic elements appear to modern readers to indicate. So, even the supposedly phonetic elements of characters are not reliable indicators of the modern Mandarin pronunciations of these characters, adding to the overall haphazard nature of characters.

Another haphazard aspect of characters is the many homographs among them, that is, different words that are written with the same characters, but that have different possible pronunciations and meanings, such that one must examine the context to deduce which pronunciation and meaning are actually the intended ones in any given situation.

In marked contrast, Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) is a simple, elegant, consistent system of representing modern Mandarin speech, such that if Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) expressions are written a certain way, then they must be pronounced a certain way—not haphazard at all!

For convenience:

The direct link for the current-generation Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus resource for the Origin of Life brochure is:

The short link for Chinese field language-learning links for the Origin of Life brochure is:

More Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) and Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus web material based on the Mandarin Origin of Life brochure will be made available in the Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus web resource as time allows.

Categories
Culture Experiences History Language Learning Theocratic

zài‐suǒ‐bùxī

zài‐suǒ‐bùxī+ ((zài in 在)‐(suǒ place 所)‐(bù·xī not · {cherish → [stint [on]]} 不惜) → [not grudge/balk [at]/stint [on]]) 👈🏼 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.]

Rather than dismissively thinking to ourselves that the songs produced by the organization are “just songs”, we should remember that the slave class takes seriously its responsibility to provide spiritual food to God’s people, and so it is going to make sure that the lyrics in its songs are spiritually correct, while also being emotionally moving.—Ezekiel 33:32; Matthew 24:45.

Not Balking

“zài‐suǒ-bùxī” _Pīnyīn_ Plus info, Song 161 (music+_Pīnyīn_), on iPhone 13 mini (landscape orientation)

This week’s MEotW in the unofficial Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus resource “Sing Out Joyfully” Bk. (Pīnyīn+Music, Pīnyīn Plus, Web)

This week’s MEotW, “zài‐suǒ‐bùxī ((zài in 在)‐(suǒ place 所)‐(bù·xī not · {cherish → [stint [on]]} 不惜) → [not grudge/balk [at]/stint [on]])”, comes from the chorus of song 161, which is entitled “To Do Your Will Is My Delight” in English and “Wǒ (I 我) Lèyú (Lè·yú {Am Happy} · to 乐于 樂於) Zūnxíng (Zūn·xíng {Abide by} · {Walk → [Do]} 遵行) Nǐ de ((Nǐ You 你) (de ’s 的) → [Your]) Zhǐyì (Zhǐ·yì Will · {Meaning → [Will]} → [Will] 旨意)” in Mandarin:

English:

To do your will is my delight.
I give you all my strength and might.
This joy I feel; this joy is real.
I will walk on in your light.

Mandarin (WOL, Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus):

📖 📄 ➕ “Wǒ (I 我) lèyú (lè·yú {am happy} · to 乐于 樂於) zūnxíng (zūn·xíng {abide by} · {walk → [do]} 遵行) nǐ (your 你) zhǐyì (zhǐ·yì will · {meaning → [will]} → [will] 旨意)!”
Chíshǒu (Chí·shǒu {to hold → [to support]} · {to defend → [to abide by]} → [to hold fast to] 持守) zhēnlǐ (zhēn·lǐ true · reasoning → [the truth] 真理), cùnbù (cùn·bù {Ch. inch (3⅓ cm) → [tiny]} · step 寸步)‐bù (not 不)‐lí ({to depart} 离 離/离),
Gānxīn (Gān·xīn {to be (of) sweet → [to be of willing]} · heart → [to be willing] 甘心) lèyì (lè·yì {to be (of) happy} · {meaning → [intention]} → [to be willing] 乐意 樂意), wúwèi (wú·wèi {to be without} · {fearing of} 无畏 無畏) jiānxīn (jiān·xīn {(things being) arduous} · {(things being) hot (in taste) → [(things being) hard]} → [hardships] 艰辛 艱辛),
Jìn ({to expend to the limit} 尽 盡) quánlì (quán·lì whole · strength 全力), zài‐suǒ‐bùxī ((zài in 在)‐(suǒ place 所)‐(bù·xī not · {to cherish → [to stint]} 不惜) → [not to balk]).

While not being a direct translation, “jìn ({to expend to the limit} 尽 盡) quánlì (quán·lì whole · strength 全力), zài‐suǒ‐bùxī ((zài in 在)‐(suǒ place 所)‐(bù·xī not · {to cherish → [to stint]} 不惜) → [not to balk])” seems to correspond with “I give you all my strength and might” in the above example. In this context, it seems that “zài‐suǒ‐bùxī ((zài in 在)‐(suǒ place 所)‐(bù·xī not · {cherish → [stint [on]]} 不惜) → [not grudge/balk [at]/stint [on]])” effectively means “not to balk” when faced with a certain situation. The delightfully awkward English word “balk” means “to stop short and refuse to go on”.

Getting Past the Great Wall of Characters

The Great Wall of China

Do we balk when faced with the Great Wall of Characters?

Some who are in the Mandarin field or considering joining it may balk at the prospect of dealing with the extaordinarily and inhumanly complex Chinese characters. However, while characters have been and can be like a Great Wall in the way of Mandarin language learners being able to function and contribute well in the Mandarin field, the historical experience of those who have braved the Mandarin field over the last few decades has been that Jehovah and his appointed King and Leader Jesus have evidently arranged for the Great Wall of Characters to be made manageable by those who take advantage of their provisions. For many years now, both official and unofficial resources have provided Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) alternative routes around and past the Great Wall of Characters, and many unofficial resources have also included English, Spanish, etc. meanings.

Jesus did not balk at confronting the human traditions of his day that made it unnecessarily and unreasonably difficult to serve God, and evidently, neither are he and his heavenly Father content to allow modern-day human traditions like those surrounding Chinese characters to keep making things unnecessarily and unreasonably difficult for those who serve him today in the vast worldwide Mandarin field.—Mark 7:13; Matthew 13:38.

“How Much More Valuable”

While some may balk at the idea of using Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) instead of the Chinese characters mandated by human tradition, we should consider how Jesus handled a situation involving the human tradtions of his day regarding the Sabbath, as recorded at Matthew 12:9–13:

After departing from that place, he went into their synagogue, and look! there was a man with a withered hand! So they asked him, “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. He said to them: “If you have one sheep and that sheep falls into a pit on the Sabbath, is there a man among you who will not grab hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do a fine thing on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man: “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored sound like the other hand.

To adapt what Jesus spoke of to the modern day Mandarin field, suppose a businessman who is still learning Mandarin is negotiating a potentially lucrative business deal with some Mandarin-speaking people in China. If Chinese characters were making it difficult for him to understand those people and their proposed business contracts, would this businessman balk at using Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) to help him understand and use the language necessary to conduct this business, close this deal, and potentially make a lot of money? Probably not! Why leave money on the table? But, how much more valuable are human beings, Mandarin-speaking “sheep” whom we could help to gain everlasting life, than any amount of Old World money that will soon be worthless? Jesus used the power available to him to do a fine thing even though it was the Sabbath, so let us not allow mere human tradition to cause us to balk at using the empowering resources available to us to do fine things in the Mandarin field!—Matthew 25:31–46; Ezekiel 7:19.

And by the way, in a way, Chinese characters are seven times worse than the Sabbath traditions of Jesus’ day—those Sabbath traditions only made things unnecessarily difficult for God’s people one day a week, but in today’s world, Chinese characters place unnecessary burdens on Jehovah’s people seven days a week!

For convenience:

The direct link for the Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus resource for the “Sing Out Joyfully” book is:

The short link for Chinese field language-learning links for the “Sing Out Joyfully” book is:

More Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) and Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus web material based on the Mandarin “Sing Out Joyfully” book will be made available in the Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus web resource as time allows.