Tag: Usage Examples

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Culture Current Events History Names Theocratic

Dì‐Èr Cì Shìjiè Dàzhàn

Dì‐Èr Cì Shìjiè Dàzhàn ({(Dì [pref to form ordinal numerals] 第)‐(Èr Two 二) → [Second]} (Cì Time 次) (Shì·jiè {Generation → [World]} · Extent → [World] 世界) (Dà·zhàn {Big → [Great]} · War 大战 大戰) → [World War II]) 👈🏼 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, “Dì‐Èr Cì Shìjiè Dàzhàn ({(Dì [pref to form ordinal numerals] 第)‐(Èr Two 二) → [Second]} (Cì Time 次) (Shì·jiè {Generation → [World]} · Extent → [World] 世界) (Dà·zhàn {Big → [Great]} · War 大战 大戰) → [World War II])”, appears in lesson 13, point 5 of this book:

English:

What position did many churches take during World War II?

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

📖 📄 📘 Dì‐Èr Cì Shìjiè Dàzhàn ({(Dì [pref to form ordinal numerals] 第)‐(Èr Two 二) → [Second]} (Cì Time 次) (Shì·jiè {Generation → [World]} · Extent → [World] 世界) (Dà·zhàn {Big → [Great]} · War 大战 大戰) → [World War II]) shí ({(particular) time} 时 時), xǔduō (xǔ·duō numbers · many 许多 許多) jiàohuì (jiào·huì teaching · associations → [churches] 教会 教會) zuòle (zuò·le did · {to completion} 做了) shénme (shén·me what · [suf] 什么 什/甚麼) shì (things 事)?

“Èrzhàn (Èr·zhàn Two · War → [World War II (abbr. of Dì‐Èr Cì Shìjiè Dàzhàn)] 二战 二戰)” is a widely used abbreviated form of this week’s MEotW. For example, it is used in the Watchtower article that, as of this writing, is featured on jw.org as part of a special campaign:

English:

“The world is facing the highest number of violent conflicts since the Second World War and 2 billion people—a quarter of humanity—live in places affected by such conflict.”

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, January 26, 2023.

Mandarin:

📖 📄 📘 Mùqián (Mù·qián eyes · before → [at present] 目前) wǔzhuāng (wǔ·zhuāng military · {dressing up → [attire]} → [military] 武装 武裝) chōngtū (chōng·tū {dashings → [clashings]} · {chimneys → [chargings]} → [conflicts] 冲突 衝突) de (’ 的) cìshù (cì·shù occurrences · number → [number of occurrences] 次数 次數) shì (is 是) Èrzhàn (Èr·zhàn Two · War → [World War II (abbr. of Dì‐Èr Cì Shìjiè Dàzhàn)] 二战 二戰) yǐlái (yǐ·lái {from that point} · coming → [since then] 以来 以來) zuìduō (zuì·duō most · numerous → [the most] 最多) de ({’s (number)} 的), quánqiú (quán·qiú entire · globe → [worldwide] 全球) yǒu ({(there) is having} → [(there) is] 有) sì (four 四) fēn (dividings → [parts] 分) zhī (’ → [among them] 之) yī (one 一) de (’s 的) rénkǒu (rén·kǒu people · {mouths of} → [population] 人口), yě (also 也) jiùshì (jiù·shì exactly · is 就是) dàyuē (dà·yuē largely · approximately 大约 大約) 20 yì ({hundred million} 亿 億) rén (people 人), shòudàole (shòu·dào·le {subjected to} · {arriving at} · {to completion} 受到了) yǐngxiǎng (yǐng·xiǎng relfection · sound → [being affected] 影响 影響).

—Liánhé Guó ((Lián·hé United · {Closed → [Joined]} 联合 聯合) (Guó Nations 国 國) → [United Nations]) Chángwù (Cháng·wù Common · Affairs → [General Duty] 常务 常務) Fù (Deputy 副) Mìshū‐Zhǎng ((Mì·shū Secret · Documents (Person) → [Secretary] 秘书 秘書)‐(Zhǎng {Grown (One) → [Chief]} 长 長) → [Secretary-General]) Āmíngnà (Amina 阿明娜) Mùhǎnmòdé (Mohammed 穆罕默德), 2023 Nián (Year 年 年/秊) 1 Yuè (Moon → [Month] 月) 26 Rì (Sun → [Day] 日)

Ordinal Numerals/Numbers

The “Dì ([pref to form ordinal numerals] 第)” in “Dì‐Èr Cì Shìjiè Dàzhàn ({(Dì [pref to form ordinal numerals] 第)‐(Èr Two 二) → [Second]} (Cì Time 次) (Shì·jiè {Generation → [World]} · Extent → [World] 世界) (Dà·zhàn {Big → [Great]} · War 大战 大戰) → [World War II])” has an old meaning referring to the different grades in which successful candidates in the imperial examinations were placed. Nowadays, “dì ([pref to form ordinal numerals] 第)” is used in Mandarin as a prefix to form ordinal numerals. In the example contained in this week’s MEotW, “Dì‐Èr ((Dì [pref to form ordinal numerals] 第)‐(Èr Two 二) → [Second])” corresponds to “Second”. In contrast, “èr (two 二)” and its English equivalent “two” are cardinal numerals.

(By the way, I learned while researching this post that there seems to be a distinction between “numeral” and “number”. It seems that Wiktionary sums up the situation well by defining “ordinal numeral” as “a word used to represent an ordinal number”, and by defining “cardinal numeral” as “a word used to represent a cardinal number”. But then again, according to Wiktionary, when it comes to grammar (as opposed to mathematics), an “ordinal number” can be defined as “a word that expresses the relative position of an item in a sequence” (which is the definition of an ordinal numeral), and “cardinal number” can be defined as “a word that expresses a countable quantity; a cardinal numeral”.)

The Hyphenation of Ordinal Numerals

The recommended standard GB/T 16159-2012 of the People’s Republic of China recommends that an ordinal numeral be written with a hyphen between “dì ([pref to form ordinal numerals] 第)” and the associated cardinal numeral. As can be seen from the example of “Dì‐Èr ((Dì [pref to form ordinal numerals] 第)‐(Èr Two 二) → [Second])” in this week’s MEotW, Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus material follows this official recommendation, since the hyphen helps to indicate that the multi-morpheme expression that it’s in, e.g., “Dì‐Èr ((Dì [pref to form ordinal numerals] 第)‐(Èr Two 二) → [Second])”, represents a single concept, like the single word “Second” indicates in English.

Historical Lessons

Worldly historians and others who study physical warfare consider World War II to be a highly significant chapter in the history of warfare, from which many important lessons can be learned. Lesson 13 of the Enjoy Life Forever! book shows that those of us who are concerned with spiritual warfare can also learn important lessons from World War II. This is especially so when we contrast what false religions did with how true Christians defended Bible truth and spiritually fought to stay politically neutral and faithful to the true God during that time. With the ongoing war in Ukraine being the largest scale armed conflict in Europe since World War II, and with all the other wars and violent conflicts that have been breaking out around the world and that may yet break out, it is becoming more and more important to remember and apply the lessons of World War II.

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
Science Technology Theocratic

qiǎohé

qiǎohé (qiǎo·hé {being coincidental → [coincidentally]} · {closing [with] → [suiting; fitting; matching]} → [coincidental] | coincidental · {closing → [suiting; fitting; matching]} → [coinciding | coincidence] 巧合) 👈🏼 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.]

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 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. Also, the Was Life Created? brochure and the Origin of Life brochure are now in the Teaching Toolbox section in the JW Library app. So, it would be good to consider some of the expressions used in the Mandarin versions of these publications that can be so helpful when discussing whether life was created.

“Coincidences”! Sure…

This week’s MEotW, which appears in the first paragraph of the section of the Mandarin Was Life Created? brochure entitled “Shēngjī (Shēng·jī Life · {Mechanism → [Being Organic]} → [Life] 生机 生機)‐Bóbó (Bó·bó Flourishing · Flourishing 勃勃) de (’s 的) Dìqiú (Dì·qiú Earth · Globe 地球)” (“The Living Planet”), is “qiǎohé (qiǎo·hé {being coincidental → [coincidentally]} · {closing [with] → [suiting; fitting; matching]} → [coincidental] | coincidental · {closing → [suiting; fitting; matching]} → [coinciding | coincidence] 巧合)”:

English:

Life on earth could never exist were it not for a series of very fortunate “coincidences,” …Those coincidences include the following:

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

📖 📄 📘 Dìqiú (Dì·qiú earth · globe 地球) zài (in 在) hěn (very 很) duō (many 多) fāngmiàn (fāng·miàn {directions → [sides]} · faces → [aspects] 方面) dōu ({all of them} 都) “qiǎohé (qiǎo·hé {being coincidental → [coincidentally]} · {closing → [matching]} → [coincidental] 巧合)” de (-ly 地) pèihe (pèi·he matches · {closes → [accords]} → [is suitable] 配合) de (getting 得) tiān‐yī‐wúfèng ((tiān (to be) heavenly 天)‐(yī garment 衣)‐(wú·fèng without · seams 无缝 無縫) → [to be flawless]), yào (if 要)‐bu ((it) not 不)‐shì ({would be} 是) zhèyàng (zhè·yàng this · {form → [way]} 这样 這樣), dìqiú (dì·qiú earth · globe 地球) shang (upon 上) gēnběn (gēn·běn {root (of a plant)} · {root or stem of a plant} → [basically] 根本) jiù (then 就) bù (not 不) kěnéng (could 可能) yǒu (have 有) shēngmìng (life 生命). … Zhèixiē (Zhèi·xiē this · {indefinite number of} → [these] 这些 這些) “qiǎohé (qiǎo·hé coincidental · {closings → [matchings]} → [coincidences] 巧合)” bāokuò (bāo·kuò wrap · {draw together} → [include] 包括):

In the above quote, “qiǎohé (qiǎo·hé {being coincidental → [coincidentally]} · {closing [with] → [suiting; fitting; matching]} → [coincidental] | coincidental · {closing → [suiting; fitting; matching]} → [coinciding | coincidence] 巧合)” is used as an adjective and as a noun, corresponding with “coincidental” and “coincidences”.

In “qiǎohé (qiǎo·hé {being coincidental → [coincidentally]} · {closing [with] → [suiting; fitting; matching]} → [coincidental] | coincidental · {closing → [suiting; fitting; matching]} → [coinciding | coincidence] 巧合)”, “qiǎo ({[is] clever; intelligent; skillful; ingenious} | {[being] opportune; coincidental} [→ [coincidentally]] 巧)” means “[being] coincidental”, which meaning it also has in “pèngqiǎo (pèng·qiǎo {having bumped into} · {being coincidental} → [by chance/coincidence] 碰巧)”, a past MEotW. As for “hé ({close; shut [with]} [→ [join; combine; gather [with] | accord [with]; conform [to]; suit; agree [with] | be fitting | be equal [to] | be proper; be appropriate | be matching [with]]] 合)”, it literally means “close/closing [with]”, and it can have various effective meanings that include “join; combine; gather [with]” and “suiting; fitting; matching”. This morpheme also appears in expressions as diverse as “hélǐ (hé·lǐ {[is] closing with → [[is] fitting/according with]} · reason → [[is] rational; reasonable; equitable] 合理)”, “Liánhé Guó ((Lián·hé United · {Closed → [Joined]} 联合 聯合) (Guó Nations 国 國) → [United Nations])”, and past MEotW “fēnzǐ jùhé‐tǐ ((fēn·zǐ {divided (off)} · {small and hard thing} → [molecular] 分子) (jù·hé assembled · {closed → [combined]} → [polymerized] 聚合)‐(tǐ body 体 體/体/躰) → [(protein) molecular machine])”.

“Coincidences”? Or Products of Purposeful Design?

The Was Life Created? brochure goes on to list the features of the earth that are discussed in that section of the brochure:

  • Earth’s location in the Milky Way galaxy and the solar system, as well as the planet’s orbit, tilt, rotational speed, and unusual moon
  • A magnetic field and an atmosphere that serve as a dual shield
  • Natural cycles that replenish and cleanse the planet’s air and water supply

Next comes an invitation that we would do well to learn how to extend to those we speak to in the Mandarin field:

English:

As you consider each of these topics, ask yourself, ‘Are earth’s features a product of blind chance or of purposeful design?’

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

📖 📄 📘 Jiē ({coming into contact with} → [taking hold of] (the baton next) 接) xialai (xia·lai down · {to come} 下来 下來), wǒmen (wǒ·men we · [pl] 我们 我們) huì (will 会 會) zhúyī (zhú·yī {one after another} · one → [one by one] 逐一) tántan (tán·tan discuss · discuss 谈谈 談談) zhè (these 这 這) jǐ (few 几 幾) fāngmiàn (fāng·miàn {directions → [sides]} · faces → [aspects] 方面). Nǐ (you 你) yuèdú (read 阅读 閱/閲讀) xiàwén (xià·wén below’s · writing → [following text] 下文) shí ({(particular) times} 时 時), bùfáng (bù·fáng {(there is) not} · hindering (in) → [there is no harm in] 不妨) wènwen (wèn·wen asking · asking 问问 問問) zìjǐ (self 自己): “Dìqiú (Dì·qiú earth · globe 地球) yǒu (having 有) zhèixiē (zhèi·xiē this · {indefinite number of} → [these] 这些 這些) dútè (dú·tè singular · special → [distinctive] 独特 獨特) xiànxiàng (xiàn·xiàng appearings · appearances → [phenomena] 现象 現象) chúncuì ({being pure} → [purely] 纯粹 純粹) shì (is 是) chūyú (chū·yú {having come out} · from 出于 出於) qiǎohé (qiǎo·hé coincidental · {closing → [suiting]} → [coincidence] 巧合), háishi (hái·shi {still more → [or]} · {is (it)} 还是 還是) chūyú (chū·yú {having come out} · from 出于 出於) Zàowù‐Zhǔ ((Zào·wù Created · Things 造物)‐(Zhǔ Master 主) → [Creator]) de (’s 的) jīngxīn (jīng·xīn {(with) meticulous} · heart 精心) shèjì (shè·jì {setting up} · planning → [design] 设计 設計) ne ([? ptcl] 呢)?”

For convenience:

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

The short link for Chinese field language-learning links for the Was Life Created? 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 Was Life Created? 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 Language Learning Technology Theocratic

lìyì

lìyì (lì·yì {sharpening → [advantage; benefit; gain | profit; interest]} · benefit; advantage; profit → [benefit; profit] 利益) 👈🏼 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.]

I have long especially liked 1 Corinthians 13. It contains counsel on what really does and doesn’t matter in life, an extensive description and definition of the most important kind of love, and a sublime discussion about the need to become complete, mature, as a person. As these apply to life in general, so too do they apply to our lives as Mandarin field language learners.

As Mandarin field language learners, it can benefit us greatly to consider what we can learn from 1 Corinthians 13, and along the way, we can also consider some of the Mandarin expressions used in that chapter in the current version of the Mandarin New World Translation Bible (nwtsty).

“Lookin’ Out for #1”?

This week’s MEotW, “lìyì (lì·yì {sharpening → [advantage; benefit; gain | profit; interest]} · benefit; advantage; profit → [benefit; profit] 利益)”, is used in verse 5 (WOL) of 1 Corinthians 13:

Screenshot of “_lìyì_” in 1 Co. 13:5 (nwtsty, CHS+_Pīnyīn_ WOL)

(Dark mode for the Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY (WOL) website, as shown in the above image, can be enabled in the Safari web browser by using the Noir Safari extension. Other web browsers may also have extensions with similar functionality.)

For comparison, here are the current English and Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) Plus renderings of 1 Corinthians 13:5:

English:

does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury.

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

📖 📄 📘 bú (not 不) zuò ({does do} 做) bù (not 不) guīju (guī·ju (following) {dividers → [rules]} · {carpenter’s squares → [regulations]} → [following established standards] 规矩 規矩) de (’ 的) shì (things 事), bù (not 不) qiú ({does seek} 求) zìjǐ (self 自己) de (’s 的) lìyì (lì·yì {sharpening → [advantage]} · benefit → [benefit] 利益), bù (not 不) qīngyì (qīng·yì lightly · easily 轻易 輕易) dòngnù (dòng·nù {does have moved} · anger → [does get angry] 动怒 動怒), bú (not 不) jìjiào (jì·jiào {does count} · {does dispute} 计较 計較) biéren (bié·ren other · people 别人 別人) zàochéng (zào·chéng {have created} · {to come to be} 造成) de (’s 的) shānghài (injuring → [injury] 伤害 傷害),

The “lì (sharpen [→ [do good [for/to]; be beneficial [for/to]]] | sharpened [→ [sharp | favourable; advantageous; good; beneficial; smooth; convenient]] | sharpening [→ [advantage; benefit; gain | profit; interest]] 利)” in “lìyì (lì·yì {sharpening → [advantage; benefit; gain | profit; interest]} · benefit; advantage; profit → [benefit; profit] 利益)” literally means “sharpening”, and can effectively mean “advantage; benefit; gain”. Similarly, the “yì (benefit; good; advantage; profit; increase | beneficial; profitable | {to increase; to benefit} 益)” in “lìyì (lì·yì {sharpening → [advantage; benefit; gain | profit; interest]} · benefit; advantage; profit → [benefit; profit] 利益)” means “benefit; advantage; profit”. We can see then, why in 1 Corinthians 13:5 in the current English and Mandarin versions of the New World Translation Bible, “bù (not 不) qiú ({does seek} 求) zìjǐ (self 自己) de (’s 的) lìyì (lì·yì {sharpening → [advantage]} · benefit → [benefit] 利益)” corresponds with the English phrase “does not look for its own interests”.

In this regard, true Christian love is completely opposite from the norm in Satan’s world, which is the kind of self-interest and lovelessness that’s expressed by this excerpt from the lyrics of the song “Lookin’ Out for #1”:

Every night is a different game
We gotta work for our fortune and fame
Success is a ladder, take a step at a time
And the people will remember your name

Yes, I found out all the tricks of the trade
And that’s there’s only one way you’re gonna get things done
I found out the only way to the top
Is looking out for number one
And that’s me, I’m looking out for number one

Not Looking For Our Own Interests in the Mandarin Field

Unlike the self-seeking people of Satan’s world, Mandarin field language learners who seek to show Christian love must not view their language learning and ministry as just a game, nor should they be seeking fortune and fame, or success as defined by the world. And rather than wanting people to remember their names, they seek to proclaim Jehovah’s name. Rather than trying to get to the top, they try to help Mandarin-speaking people to get everlasting life. Yes, rather than looking out for number one (themselves), they exert themselves and make sacrifices to help others as spiritual rescue workers, and they seek to glorify, not themselves, but rather, Jehovah, as admonished by our recently introduced song “Give Jehovah Glory”.

To help us gain insight on how well we are doing when it comes to not looking for our own interests in the Mandarin field, we could consider the following:

  • If we are exerting ourselves to learn the traditionally used but exceedingly complex Chinese characters, how much of our motivation is to be more able to help Mandarin-speaking people more effectively and glorify Jehovah more clearly and eloquently, and how much is it to glorify ourselves in the eyes of tradition-loving advocates of worldly Chinese culture?
  • Are we resistant to Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音) because it doesn’t have the same worldly cultural glamour and prestige as the characters do, or do we value it because of how it can help us to more quickly, easily, and effectively glorify Jehovah and give spiritual help to Mandarin-speaking people?
  • This year’s convention program helps us to further appreciate the kind of person Jesus showed himself to be when he was on earth. As Jesus’ Christian followers, we seek to follow his example, including his example in showing love that “does not look for its own interests”.
    • From what we have learned about Jesus, if he were on earth today and serving in the Mandarin field, would he be impressed by the glorious, prestigious traditions of worldly Chinese culture, such as those involving Chinese characters? Would he be okay with allowing such human traditions to make it much more difficult than necessary to glorify Jehovah in Mandarin and give spiritual help to Mandarin-speaking people? Considering how he viewed the Sabbath traditions of the first-century Jews, which only unnecessarily oppressively burdened people one day a week, how would he view today’s human-mandated traditions involving Chinese characters, which unnecessarily oppressively burden his followers in the Mandarin field every single day?—John 5:16, 17; 41–44.