Tag: jw.org

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Culture History Theocratic

Fúyīn‐Shū

Fúyīn‐Shū+ ((Fú·yīn Blessings · {Sounds → [News]} 福音)‐(Shū Writing → [Book] 书 書) → [Gospel]) 👈🏼 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 video series The Good News According to Jesus (Yēsū (Jesus 耶稣 耶穌) de (’ 的) Yìshēng (Yì·shēng {One → [Whole]} · Life 一生) in Mandarin). In its description of this video series, jw.org uses this week’s MEotW “Fúyīn‐Shū+ ((Fú·yīn Blessings · {Sounds → [News]} 福音)‐(Shū Writing → [Book] 书 書) → [Gospel])”:

English:

See the Gospels come to life in this exciting video series about Jesus Christ.

Mandarin:

📖 📄 ➕ Zhèige (Zhèi·ge this · [mw] 这个 這個) jīngcǎi (jīng·cǎi {(having) spirit → [excellent]} · {(having) colour → [splendid]} → [marvelous] 精彩 精彩/采) de (’ 的) xìliè+ (xì·liè {series of} · {lined up (thing) of → [series of]} → [series of] 系列) yǐngpiàn (yǐng·piàn images · {slices of → [mw]} → [videos] 影片) shēngdòng (shēng·dòng living · moving → [vivid] 生动 生動) de (-ly 地) chéngxiàn+ (chéng·xiàn presents · shows → [presents] 呈现 呈現) chū (out 出) Fúyīn‐Shū+ ((Fú·yīn Blessings · {Sounds → [News]} 福音)‐(Shū Writings → [Books] 书 書) → [the Gospels]) de (’ 的) nèiróng (nèi·róng inside · {contained (things)} → [contents] 内容 內容), bāngzhù (helping 帮助 幫助) wǒmen (wǒ·men us · [pl] 我们 我們) gèng (more 更) liǎojiě (liǎo·jiě {to understand} · {to untie → [to solve]} → [to understand] 了解 了/瞭解) Yēsū (Jesus 耶稣 耶穌) Jīdū (Christ 基督).

The Morphemes

The Glossary in the Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY tells us that “the [English] word ‘gospel’ is derived from the old English godspel, which means ‘good news; good tidings’.” Looking at the morphemes in “Fúyīn‐Shū ((Fú·yīn Blessings · {Sounds → [News]} 福音)‐(Shū Writing → [Book] 书 書) → [Gospel])”, we see that the first one, “Fú ({good fortune}; blessing [→ [happiness]] 福)”, is the fairly well-known one that means “blessings”. The second morpheme “yīn (sound [→ [musical note/sound; tone; pronunciation | syllable | news; tidings]] 音)” literally means “sounds”, but in this context it has an effective meaning of “news”. And while many of us Mandarin field language learners are used to using the third morpheme “Shū (write | writing [→ [book | letter | document | style of calligraphy; script]] 书 書)” to mean “book”, we can note that this is an effective meaning derived from a literal meaning of “writing”. (This literal meaning of “writing” is why, for example, “qíngshū+ (qíng·shū {feelings; affection; emotion → [love]} · {writing → [letter]} 情书 情書)” is the Mandarin expression meaning “love letter”.)

The official video for the Jacky Cheung song “Qíngshū+ (Qíng·shū {Feelings → [Love]} · {Writing → [Letter]} 情书 情書)”

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

As an additional usage example, the below sentence from the jw.org page for the above-mentioned video series shows how “Fúyīn‐Shū ((Fú·yīn Blessings · {Sounds → [News]} 福音)‐(Shū Writing → [Book] 书 書) → [Gospel])” relates to the Mandarin versions of the names of the Bible books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John:

English:

Dialogue is taken directly from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Mandarin:

📖 📄 ➕ Duìbái+ (Duì·bái facing · {white (parts) → [plain (parts)] → [spoken parts in opera/etc.]} → [dialogue] 对白 對白) zhíjiē (zhí·jiē {being straight} · connecting → [directly] 直接) yǐnzì+ (yǐn·zì {is drawn → [is quoted]} · from 引自) Mǎtài Fúyīn ((Mǎtài Matthew’s 马太 馬太) (Fú·yīn Blessings · {Sounds → [News]} 福音) → [The Good News According to Matthew]), Mǎkě Fúyīn ((Mǎkě Mark’s 马可 馬可) (Fú·yīn Blessings · {Sounds → [News]} 福音) → [The Good News According to Mark]), Lùjiā Fúyīn ((Lùjiā Luke’s 路加) (Fú·yīn Blessings · {Sounds → [News]} 福音) → [The Good News According to Luke]), Yuēhàn Fúyīn ((Yuēhàn John’s 约翰 約翰) (Fú·yīn Blessings · {Sounds → [News]} 福音) → [The Good News According to John])

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.