Category: Technology

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Culture Technology Theocratic

wú‐suǒwèi

wú‐suǒwèi ((wú {[(considers that)] there is not} 无 無/无)‐(suǒ·wèi {that which} · {is said to be} 所谓 所謂) → [does not matter | is indifferent; does not care]) 👈🏼 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 None re all the “flashcards” in the heading, paragraph, etc. that they are placed at the beginning of.]

One of the publications that is now recommended to be used on Bible studies is the Yǒngyuǎn Xiǎngshòu Měihǎo de Shēngmìng—Hùdòng Shì Shèngjīng Kèchéng ((Yǒng·yuǎn Eternally · {Far (in Time)} 永远 永遠) (Xiǎng·shòu Enjoy · Receive 享受) (Měi·hǎo Beautiful · Good 美好) (de ’s 的) (Shēngmìng Life 生命)—(Hù·dòng {Each Other} · Moving → [Interactive] 互动 互動) (Shì (Type 式) (Shèng·jīng Holy · Scriptures → [Bible] 圣经 聖經) (Kè·chéng Lessons · Procedure → [Course] 课程 課程) → [Enjoy Life Forever!—An Interactive Bible Course (lff)]) (Enjoy Life Forever! (lff)) book. This week’s MEotW, “wú‐suǒwèi ((wú {[(considers that)] there is not} 无 無/无)‐(suǒ·wèi {that which} · {is said to be} 所谓 所謂) → [does not matter | is indifferent; does not care])”, appears in lesson 14 of this book, in the “SOME PEOPLE SAY” section:

English:

SOME PEOPLE SAY: “It’s impossible to please God.”

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

📖 📄 📘 RÚGUǑ (RÚ·GUǑ IF · {FRUIT → [IF INDEED]} 如果) YǑURÉN (YǑU·RÉN {(THERE) ARE HAVING → [(THERE) ARE]} · PEOPLE 有人) SHUŌ (SAYING 说 說/説): “Zhǐyào (Zhǐ·yào only · {requiring (that)} → [so long as] 只要) xīnli (xīn·li hearts · inside 心里 心裡/裏) yǒu ({(we) have} 有) Shàngdì (Shàng·dì Above’s · {Emperor → [God]} → [God] 上帝) jiù (then 就) xíng ({(it) goes} → [it’s alright] 行), zěnme (zěn·me however · [suf] 怎么 怎麼/麽) chóngbài (chóng·bài (we) {esteem → [worship]} · {do obeisance to → [worship]} → [(we) worship] 崇拜) Shàngdì (Shàng·dì Above’s · {Emperor → [God]} → [God] 上帝) dōu ({in all those cases} 都) wú‐suǒwèi ((wú {there is not} 无 無/无)‐(suǒ·wèi {that which} · {is said to be} 所谓 所謂) → [it does not matter]).”

As can be seen from the above, the English and Mandarin versions of this section of lesson 14 express different meanings—the Mandarin version actually means something like “As long as we have God in our hearts, it doesn’t matter how we worship God.” Apparently, it was decided that the English and Mandarin fields have different needs in this regard. Anyway, in the above example, this week’s MEotW “wú‐suǒwèi ((wú {[(considers that)] there is not} 无 無/无)‐(suǒ·wèi {that which} · {is said to be} 所谓 所謂) → [does not matter | is indifferent; does not care])” effectively means “it does not matter”.

How do this expression’s morphemes work together to produce this effective meaning? The literal meaning of the morphemes is “{there is not} {that which} {is said to be}”, which kind of has the flavour of “there is nothing to speak of”. It’s not hard to see then, why this expression effectively means “does not matter | is indifferent; does not care”.

Playing It Cool?

Another place where I have seen “wú‐suǒwèi ((wú {[(considers that)] there is not} 无 無/无)‐(suǒ·wèi {that which} · {is said to be} 所谓 所謂) → [does not matter | is indifferent; does not care])” used is in the Faye Wong song “Shìyán (Shì·yán Pledging · Words → [Pledge] 誓言)”:

Mandarin:

📖 📄 📘 Rúguǒ (Rú·guǒ if · {fruit → [if indeed]} 如果) nǐ (you 你) néng (could 能) gěi (give 给 給) wǒ (me 我) yí (one 一) ge ([mw] 个 個/个) zhēnchéng (zhēn·chéng true · sincere 真诚 真誠) de (’s 的) juéduì (jué·duì {being cut off → [absolutely]} · {facing → [being compared]} → [being definite] 绝对 絕對)…
Wú‐suǒwèi ((Wú {(I consider that) there is not} 无 無/无)‐(suǒ·wèi {that which} · {is said to be} 所谓 所謂) → [(I) don’t care]), wǒ (I 我) shénme (shén·me {(about) what → [(about) anything]} · [suf] 什么 什/甚麼) dōu ({in all those cases} 都) wú‐suǒwèi ((wú {(consider that) there is not} 无 無/无)‐(suǒ·wèi {that which} · {is said to be} 所谓 所謂) → [don’t care]).

English:

If you could give me a sincere certainty…
I don’t care, I don’t care about anything.

In this part of the song, she is trying to “play it cool,” saying that whatever he says or does doesn’t matter to her, that she doesn’t care. Ironically, though, those who tell such things to others and to themselves often do so precisely because they do care. Later in the song, she sings:

Mandarin:

📖 📄 📘 Bié (don’t 别 別) yǐwéi (yǐ·wéi consider · {(the case) to be} (that) 以为 以為) zhízhuó (zhí·zhuó persisting · applying → [persevering] 执着 執著) de (’s 的) xīn (heart 心) jiù (then 就) búhuì (bú·huì not · can → [cannot] 不会 不會) bèi ({be covered by being → [passive signifier]} → [be] 被) pèngsuì (pèng·suì knocked · {to be broken to pieces} 碰碎).
Bié (don’t 别 別) yǐwéi (yǐ·wéi consider · {(the case) to be} (that) 以为 以為) wǒ (I 我) zhēnde (zhēn·de really · ’s 真的) wú‐suǒwèi ((wú {(consider that) there is not} 无 無/无)‐(suǒ·wèi {that which} · {is said to be} 所谓 所謂) → [don’t care]).

English:

Don’t think that a persevering heart can’t be shattered.
Don’t think that I really don’t care.

Lyrics for the Faye Wong song “Shìyán” (“Pledge”) in Apple Music, on an iPad

Lyrics for the Faye Wong song “Shìyán (Shì·yán Pledging · Words → [Pledge] 誓言)” (“Pledge”) in Apple Music, on an iPad (It’s great that they give the option of showing the Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音), but it would have been even better if they included tone marks, even if the tones are not heard during singing.)

For convenience:

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

The short link for Chinese field language-learning links for the Enjoy Life Forever! 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 Enjoy Life Forever! book will be made available in the Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus web resource as time allows.

Categories
Culture Current Events History Language Learning Technology

Gōngyè‐Dǎng

Gōngyè (Gōng·yè {Work → [Industry]} · {Engaged In (Thing) → [Industry]} → [Industrial] 共产 共產)‐Dǎng (Party 党 黨/党) 👈🏼 Tap/click to show/hide the “flashcard”

In contrast to “Gòngchǎn (Gòng·chǎn {Commonly Possessing} · {Produced (Things) → [Property]} → [Communist] 共产 共產)‐Dǎng (Party 党 黨/党)”, which refers to the Chinese Communist Party, the only political organization currently tolerated in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), this week’s MEotW, “Gōngyè (Gōng·yè {Work → [Industry]} · {Engaged In (Thing) → [Industry]} → [Industrial] 共产 共產)‐Dǎng (Party 党 黨/党)”, refers, not to a political organization, but rather, to an intellectual movement. It is introduced this way in the Wikipedia article about it:

In China, Industrial Party (simplified Chinese: 工业党; traditional Chinese: 工業黨; pinyin: gōngyè dǎng, also translated as Industrialist or Technologist[source]) refers to a group of Chinese thinkers and Chinese people who support scientific thinking, advanced technology, techno-nationalism, and economic growth,[source] and reject liberalism, universal values, and free market.[source] In a narrow sense, it could also refer to the fan culture of Illumine Lingao, a Chinese time-travel novel.

Technology, Industry, and China

In recent years, the PRC has indeed placed much emphasis on developing its technology and industry, to much worldly success. However, while the technological pragmatism that Gōngyè (Gōng·yè {Work → [Industry]} · {Engaged In (Thing) → [Industry]} → [Industrial] 共产 共產)‐Dǎng (Party 党 黨/党) thinkers claim to support is evident to a degree in how modern China operates, it is insufficient to enable us to fully understand modern Chinese thinking and culture. For example, if the people of China were purely rational and pragmatic technologists, then Chinese characters would long ago have been replaced by Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音), which is obviously the objectively superior writing technology from a technical standpoint. In reality, as discussed by a past post about the Needham Question, some unfortunate spiritual characteristics have plagued worldly Chinese culture, that have hampered its technological and industrial progress in the past and that perhaps continue to do so to some extent.

Also, there are signs that people in China are getting disillusioned with Gōngyè (Gōng·yè {Work → [Industry]} · {Engaged In (Thing) → [Industry]} → [Industrial] 共产 共產)‐Dǎng (Party 党 黨/党) thinking that prioritizes working hard for industrial and technological progress. For example, as discussed in a previous post on this blog, a significant number of young Chinese people are opting to tǎngpíng (tǎng·píng lie · {to be flat} 躺平), or “lie flat”, instead of persisting in the technological and industrial rat race.

Yes, technical capability is necessary, but it is insufficient on its own to bring about a perfect society, a paradise earth. A basic flaw of focusing mainly on technology and industry is that doing so focuses on physical things, and neglects necessary spiritual things. As 1 Corinthians 2:14, 15 says:

But a physical man does not accept the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know them, because they are examined spiritually. However, the spiritual man examines all things, but he himself is not examined by any man.

Technology, Industry, and Jehovah’s People

Even just measuring according to technology and physical infrastructure, Jehovah God has produced the best technology and physical infrastructure in the universe, far surpassing what humans have accomplished, whether in China or in the West. A few examples of this that come to mind are:

  • The molecular machines in our cells
  • Beavers and the ecological infrastructure they produce instinctually
  • The sun, a working, immensely powerful, yet safe and reliable nuclear fusion reactor that has been providing energy for the earth since before humans existed (Matthew 5:45)

How about Jehovah’s people? That technical capability is of some importance even for those who prioritize spiritual things can be seen from how Jehovah arranged for certain ones among the Israelites to be given the knowledge and skills needed to produce things that were necessary for his worship at that time.—Exodus 35:30–36:2.

Looking at the big picture, Jehovah God has trained us to understand that to truly succeed, we must first be motivated by the kind of love spoken of at 1 Corinthians 13, and he has trained us to understand that without such love, we ultimately “do not benefit at all”, regardless of our technical abilities. At the same time, just as “faith without works is dead”, love also must not be just a feeling in our hearts, but rather must be followed through with and expressed by what we do. (James 2:26) May we use well the technology available to us, and thus show our godly love by accomplishing the best we can for Jehovah God and for the people we can help.—Malachi 1:6–14.

Categories
Culture Language Learning Names Technology Theocratic

Yēsū Xīshēng Jìniàn Jùhuì

Yēsū (Jesus’ 耶稣 耶穌)
Xīshēng (Xī·shēng {Sacrifice (n)} · {(as with a) Domestic Animal} → [Sacrifice] 牺牲 犧牲)
Jìniàn Jùhuì ((Jì·niàn Remembering · {Thinking Of} → [Commemorating] 记/纪念 記/紀念) (Jùhuì Meeting 聚会 聚會) → [Memorial]) 👈🏼 Tap/click to show/hide the “flashcard”

[As of this writing, jw.org is featuring the upcoming Memorial. So, this is basically a reposting of a post from a few years back about the current official Mandarin translation of “the Memorial of Jesus’ death”.]

This year’s Memorial is coming up soon, so this week’s MEotW is “Yēsū (Jesus’ 耶稣 耶穌) Xīshēng (Xī·shēng {Sacrifice (n)} · {(as with a) Domestic Animal} → [Sacrifice] 牺牲 犧牲) Jìniàn Jùhuì ((Jì·niàn Remembering · {Thinking Of} → [Commemorating] 记/纪念 記/紀念) (Jùhuì Meeting 聚会 聚會) → [Memorial])”. This is currently the official way to translate “the Memorial of Jesus’ death” into Mandarin, as can be seen by comparing the English and Mandarin pages for the Memorial on jw.org.

It’s worth noting that this is a simple, straightforward, functional translation, free of unnecessary sentimentality or ceremony. As one dictionary puts it, “ceremony”, in this case, refers to:

The formalities observed on some solemn or important public or state occasion in order to render it more imposing or impressive: as, the ceremony of crowning a king, or of laying a foundation-stone; the ceremony of inaugurating the President of the United States.

Indeed, for those of us who appreciate Jesus’ ransom sacrifice, the Memorial is about this appreciation, not about ceremony or empty or showy rituals.

What Price Ceremony?

The matter of unnecessary ceremony reminds me of something I heard in a podcast a while ago:

Here is a clip of the podcast referred to in the X post above, in which Mr. Cohen speaks of the core goal to make Swift ceremony-free:

As the above X post also mentions, Chinese characters have oodles and gobs of unnecessary, time-and-energy-consuming ceremony, especially compared to the simple, straightforward, and elegant Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) writing system. And, echoing Mr. Cohen’s observation that ceremony can weigh programmers down and rob them of the joy that they could otherwise feel when coding, many have found that the unnecessary, traditionally mandated complexity and ceremonial baggage of Chinese characters can weigh down Mandarin learners and take away much of the joy that they should be able to feel from learning how to really communicate with Mandarin-speaking people.

Is it appropriate for us to look at the Chinese characters writing system through the same lens that we use to look at a technological system like the Swift programming language? It really is, because while the Chinese characters writing system is indeed a matter of culture, all writing systems are simultaneously technologies, applications of skills and knowledge for practical purposes.