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Culture Experiences Theocratic

rénwù shēngpíng

rénwù shēngpíng ((rén·wù person · thing → [personage] 人物) (shēng·píng life · {(being) level} → [whole life] 生平) → [life story]) ← Tap/click to show/hide the “flashcard”

The new format of the Enjoy Life Forever! book, which incorporates post-paper technologies like video, enables the inclusion of a type of content that past publications used for Bible studies could not include—life stories. For example, the video for Lesson 04, point 5 of the Enjoy Life Forever! book, entitled My Search for the True God, contains the life story of Soten Yoeun, who endured many hardships but eventually found the true God Jehovah.

In the Mandarin version of this video, the expression “rénwù shēngpíng ((rén·wù person · thing → [personage] 人物) (shēng·píng life · {(being) level} → [whole life] 生平) → [life story])” is used to correspond with the expression “life story” that is used in the English version of the video. (A Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus transcript for the Mandarin version of this video is available here.)

A Mandarin Personage

“Rénwù (Rén·wù person · thing → [character; personage; figure] 人物)”, which literally means “person thing”, can mean “character; personage; figure”. For example, “Shèngjīng (Shèng·jīng Holy · Scriptures → [Bible] 圣经 聖經) rénwù (rén·wù person · thing → [character] 人物)” has been used to correspond with “Bible character”, that is, a person depicted in the Bible. For example, “A Letter From the Governing Body” in the Mandarin version of the Learn From the Bible book uses this expression in this way.

What, though, shall we make of “shēngpíng (shēng·píng life · {(being) level} → [[one’s] whole life] 生平)”? While “shēng ({give birth to}/{was given birth to}; {give life to} | grow | exist; live | {[is] living}; {[is] alive} | {[is] unripe} | {[is] raw}; {[is] uncooked} | {[is] unfamiliar}; {[is] strange} | {[is] unprocessed}; {[is] crude} | existence; life; living | {be afflicted with}; get; have | very; keenly; much | pupil; student; scholar | [n suf used in names of occupations] 生)” can mean many different things, here it obviously means “life”, that is, a life or lifetime. It’s less obvious, though, how “píng ({[being] flat, level, even} [→ [[being] peaceful; calm | peace | [being] equal; fair; just | standard; level]] | {make [to be] flat, level, even} [→ [make peace; pacify; calm down]] 平)” fits into this expression.

On the Level

The “píng ({[being] flat, level, even} [→ [[being] peaceful; calm | peace | [being] equal; fair; just | standard; level]] | {make [to be] flat, level, even} [→ [make peace; pacify; calm down]] 平)” in question literally means “[is] flat; level; even”. What, though, does that have to do with one’s rénwù shēngpíng ((rén·wù person · thing → [personage] 人物) (shēng·píng life · {(being) level} → [whole life] 生平) → [life story]), one’s life story?

Perhaps we can get some clues by considering how “píng ({[being] flat, level, even} [→ [[being] peaceful; calm | peace | [being] equal; fair; just | standard; level]] | {make [to be] flat, level, even} [→ [make peace; pacify; calm down]] 平)” is used in other expressions. For example, another expression that contains “píng ({[being] flat, level, even} [→ [[being] peaceful; calm | peace | [being] equal; fair; just | standard; level]] | {make [to be] flat, level, even} [→ [make peace; pacify; calm down]] 平)” is “tiānpíng (tiān·píng heaven’s · {(being) level} → [balance; scales (to weigh things)] 天平)”, which means a balance or a set of scales used to weigh things.

Yet another expression with “píng ({[being] flat, level, even} [→ [[being] peaceful; calm | peace | [being] equal; fair; just | standard; level]] | {make [to be] flat, level, even} [→ [make peace; pacify; calm down]] 平)” in it, that may help us understand how “píng ({[being] flat, level, even} [→ [[being] peaceful; calm | peace | [being] equal; fair; just | standard; level]] | {make [to be] flat, level, even} [→ [make peace; pacify; calm down]] 平)” functions in “shēngpíng (shēng·píng life · {(being) level} → [[one’s] whole life] 生平)”, is “shuǐpíng (shuǐ·píng water · {(being) level} → [standard; level; proficiency] 水平)”. This word is used to refer to a standard or level (of quality, achievement, etc.).

Considering the above examples, it seems that “shēngpíng (shēng·píng life · {(being) level} → [[one’s] whole life] 生平)” is used to mean the “level” achieved over the entire course of a life. From a negative point of view, this could involve passing judgment or competitively comparing achievements as if life were but a game. However, from a more positive and charitable point of view, considering one’s “shēngpíng (shēng·píng life · {(being) level} → [[one’s] whole life] 生平)” could involve recognition of what one was able to accomplish over the course of one’s life.

(By the way, it may also be worth noting that the “píng ({[being] flat, level, even} [→ [[being] peaceful; calm | peace | [being] equal; fair; just | standard; level]] | {make [to be] flat, level, even} [→ [make peace; pacify; calm down]] 平)” in “rénwù shēngpíng ((rén·wù person · thing → [personage] 人物) (shēng·píng life · {(being) level} → [whole life] 生平) → [life story])” is also used in “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)” and in “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)”. These expressions were discussed in the MEotW post on “hémù ({[is] harmonious} 和睦)”.)

For convenience:

The direct link for the current generation 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 Language Learning Theocratic

fùlù

fùlù (fù·lù appended · record → [appendix; endnotes] 附录 附錄) ← Tap/click to show/hide the “flashcard”

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. In this book, the Mandarin word “fùlù (fù·lù appended · record → [appendix; endnotes] 附录 附錄)”, this week’s MEotW, is used to translate the English word “endnotes”. In other official publications, such as the Biànmíng Shèngjīng de Zhēnlǐ ((Biàn·míng Differentiating · {to Be Clear} 辨明) (Shèng·jīng (the) Holy · Scriptures → [the Bible] 圣经 聖經) (de ’s 的) (Zhēn·lǐ True · Reasoning → [Truth] 真理) → [What Does the Bible Really Teach? (bh)]) (Bible Teach (bh)) book, “fùlù (fù·lù appended · record → [appendix; endnotes] 附录 附錄)” has been used to translate the English word “appendix”.

“Added” Meanings

The “fù (add; attach; enclose; append 附 附/坿)” in “fùlù (fù·lù appended · record → [appendix; endnotes] 附录 附錄)” can mean “add”, “attach”, “enclose”, or “append”. With such a set of meanings, it’s not surprising that “fù (add; attach; enclose; append 附 附/坿)” also occurs in many other Mandarin expressions, such as the following:

  • fùjìn (fù·jìn {[is] attached → [[is] nearby]} · {[is] near} [(area) → [vicinity]] 附近)
  • fùlán (fù·lán attached · {bounded area → [box]} 附栏 附欄)
  • fùshēn (fù·shēn {attached to} · body → [possessed] 附身)

Attachment for Advancement

One interesting use of “fù (add; attach; enclose; append 附 附/坿)” is in the chéngyǔ (chéng·yǔ {(sth. that) has become} · saying → [set phrase (typically of 4 characters)] 成语 成語) (type of Chinese idiom) “pānlóng‐fùjì ((pān·lóng {hang on to} · dragon 攀龙 攀龍)‐(fù·jì {attach to} · {thoroughbred horse} 附骥 附驥) → [ride on the coattails of a brilliant master; follow the lead of a great man; attach oneself to a celebrity; bask in reflected glory])”, which literally means “hang on to dragon, attach to thoroughbred horse”, and which can have effective meanings such as “ride on the coattails of a brilliant master; follow the lead of a great man; attach oneself to a celebrity; bask in reflected glory”.

A similar but slightly different chéngyǔ (chéng·yǔ {(sth. that) has become} · saying → [set phrase (typically of 4 characters)] 成语 成語) is “pānlóng‐fùfèng ((pān·lóng {hang on to} · dragon 攀龙 攀龍)‐(fù·fèng {attach to} · phoenix 附凤 附鳳) → [curry favour with powerful and influential people])”, which literally means “hang on to dragon, attach to phoenix”, and which effectively means “curry favour with powerful and influential people”.

One of the things that the meanings of the above chéngyǔ (chéng·yǔ {(things that) have become} · sayings → [set phrases (typically of 4 characters)] 成语 成語) make me think of is that while many in the Mandarin field put a lot of time and effort into learning Chinese characters because of sincerely believing that doing so may help them to praise Jehovah and help people more effectively in this Chinese language field, it may be the case that some do so because of wanting to bask in the exotic glory of Chinese characters and their exalted place in worldly Chinese culture.

This glorification of the characters writing system is actually in contrast to the basic principle of modern linguistics that speech is primary and writing is secondary. Also, the Bible itself emphasizes the primary importance in our spiritual preaching and teaching work of understandable speech, which experience has shown can get neglected by those who focus on learning the extraordinarily complex Chinese characters.—1 Corinthians 14:8–11.

“Phoenix” and Christians

Going back to the literal meanings of the above chéngyǔ (chéng·yǔ {(things that) have become} · sayings → [set phrases (typically of 4 characters)] 成语 成語), note that while it’s relatively well known that “dragon” occurs in the Bible, “Phoenix” only seems to occur in the Bible as the name of a “harbor of Crete”. (Revelation 12:9; Acts 27:12) It is well known, though, that the phoenix is associated with worldly mythologies, such as Egyptian mythology. In the Mandarin field, we of course need to be aware that the phoenix features in Chinese mythology. So, a Christian may not want to personally use an expression that refers to the mythological phoenix. However, it may still be beneficial to at least be familiar with expressions like the one above.

Speaking of phoenixes, I am reminded of a Taiwanese sister I know who regretted that her unbelieving parents had made “Fèng (Phoenix 凤 鳳)”, the word for “phoenix”, part of her name. How unfortunate! At least we can probably look forward to getting new names in the new system, especially in cases like hers, as we transition to speaking and writing in the new world way and leave behind old world systems like Chinese characters.

For convenience:

The direct link for the current generation 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
Theocratic

hùdòng

hùdòng (hù·dòng mutually; {[(with)] each other} · moving → [interacting; interaction; interactive] 互动 互動) ← Tap/click to show/hide the “flashcard”

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. Looking at the Mandarin title of this book, you may have wondered: What does “hùdòng (hù·dòng mutually; {[(with)] each other} · moving → [interacting; interaction; interactive] 互动 互動)” mean?

_Enjoy Life Forever!_ bk. title page (jw.org CHS+Pinyin)

(The above screenshot from jw.org shows light-coloured text on a dark background because I have set jw.org’s relatively new Appearance Settings to do so. As the related JW News article says, “some users prefer this setting because the screen is less bright. This may help reduce eyestrain, especially at night or in other low-light environments.” Most Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus web resources (short link: tiandi.info/pyp) also have a Night Theme available, that can be turned on or off using the ☀️/🌙 button on their web pages.)

You may surmise that “hùdòng (hù·dòng mutually; {[(with)] each other} · moving → [interacting; interaction; interactive] 互动 互動)” corresponds with the “Interactive” in Enjoy Life Forever!​—An Interactive Bible Course, and you would be right. Now, let’s take a closer look at the morphemes in “hùdòng (hù·dòng mutually; {[(with)] each other} · moving → [interacting; interaction; interactive] 互动 互動)” to see how they work in a way that makes “hùdòng (hù·dòng mutually; {[(with)] each other} · moving → [interacting; interaction; interactive] 互动 互動)” correspond as well as it does with the English word “interactive”, which means “acting upon or influencing each other”.

Morphemic Breakdown

As the Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus information for “hùdòng (hù·dòng mutually; {[(with)] each other} · moving → [interacting; interaction; interactive] 互动 互動)” shows us, its first morpheme “hù- (mutually; {[(with)] each other} 互)” means “mutually; [(with)] each other”. It’s the “hù- (mutually; {[(with)] each other} 互)” in “hùxiāng ({each other} 互相) gǔlì (gǔ·lì {drum → [rouse]} · encourage → [encourage] 鼓励 鼓勵)”, which means “encourage one another”.

The other morpheme “dòng (move [→ [stir | arouse | change; alter]] 动 動)” basically means “move”. In some contexts, it means to move physically, as it does in “dòngwù (dòng·wù moving · thing → [animal] 动物 動物)”, which literally means “moving thing”, and is used to mean “animal”. (Interestingly, the English word “animal” is related to the word “animate”, which can mean “bring into action or movement”.) In other contexts, “dòng (move [→ [stir | arouse | change; alter]] 动 動)” means to move emotionally, as it does in “gǎndòng (gǎn·dòng feeling · moved | {make to feel} · move 感动 感動)”. In yet other contexts, “dòng (move [→ [stir | arouse | change; alter]] 动 動)” is used to effectively mean “change; alter”.

Breaking down “hùdòng (hù·dòng mutually; {[(with)] each other} · moving → [interacting; interaction; interactive] 互动 互動)” into its morphemes helps us to see that “hù- (mutually; {[(with)] each other} 互)” corresponds with the “inter-” part of “interactive”, and that “dòng (move [→ [stir | arouse | change; alter]] 动 動)” corresponds with the “active” (“acting [up]on”) part.

Interactive Indeed

The English word “interactive” has a particular meaning in the world of computing, which is “responds to user activity”.

Interestingly, the Enjoy Life Forever! book even has some interactivity in its paper form, with its “Lesson completed on:” and “Goal” sections allowing room for a user to write in them with a pencil or pen. This is in addition to the limited interactivity that any paper publication offers a user, such as being able to write notes in the margins or to highlight or underline text.

The Enjoy Life Forever! book in the PDF file format—a computer file format that is conceptually rooted in the world of paper—adds the ability for a user to tap/click on links to load the web pages on which the videos mentioned in the book can be played. As we move on to more computer-native formats, we find that on the jw.org website and in the JW Library app, where of course links are available for playing the videos, a user can tap/click on text fields in the “Lesson completed on:” and “Goal” sections and type text into them that will be “remembered”. Also, a user can tap/click on the checkboxes in the “Goal” section, and those checkboxes will “remember” and show whether they are checked or unchecked.

As discussed in the JW Broadcasting—January 2021 program, when it comes to the more general meaning of the English word “interactive”, “acting upon or influencing each other”, the Enjoy Life Forever! book in every format is designed to engage and involve people more than past Bible study textbooks did. It indeed qualifies as “interactive”, or as we say in Mandarin, “hùdòng (hù·dòng {each other} · moving → [interactive] 互动 互動) shì (type 式)”.

(By the way, just as is possible on this blog, in the unofficial Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus material for the Enjoy Life Forever! book, users can interactively tap/click on Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) expressions to show/hide, as desired, flashcards showing English meanings, Simplified character(s), Traditional character(s) (if they’re different), etc. for these expressions.)

For convenience:

The direct link for the current generation 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.