liánmǐn ({sympathizing with}; pitying [→ [having compassion; mercy]] 怜悯/闵/愍 憐憫/閔/愍) ← Tap/click to show/hide the “flashcard”
Appendix A2 of the English New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition), entitled “Features of This Revision”, discusses vocabulary changes that have been made in the current revision, words that have been translated differently than before. As noted in various entries in the excellent resource Referenced Theo. Expressions (RTE), Appendix A2 of the current Mandarin version of the New World Translation Bible (nwtsty) correspondingly discusses words that have been translated differently in the current revision of the Mandarin NWT Bible, compared to how they had been translated before.
Since we base what we say in Jehovah’s service on his Word the Bible, the vocabulary used in it—and the way those vocabulary words are translated—should be reflected in how we speak in our ministry, at our meetings, etc. So, it is beneficial for us Mandarin field language learners to be familiar with the latest thinking from the organization on how Bible terms should be translated into Mandarin.
A Different Mandarin “Merciful”
As Appendix A2 of the current Mandarin version of the New World Translation Bible (nwtsty) points out, this current version builds on the previous version’s efforts to avoid expressions that could easily be associated with false religious concepts.
The first example that it points to is that in scriptures such as Exodus 34:6 (English, Mandarin), “cíbēi (cí·bēi {[is] kind} · {[is] compassionate} → [[is] merciful | mercy; benevolence; pity] 慈悲)” has been changed to “liánmǐn ({sympathizing with}; pitying [→ [having compassion; mercy]] 怜悯/闵/愍 憐憫/閔/愍)”:
Not What We Mean
So, what’s the deal with “cíbēi (cí·bēi {[is] kind} · {[is] compassionate} → [[is] merciful | mercy; benevolence; pity] 慈悲)”? The entries for “cíbēi (cí·bēi {[is] kind} · {[is] compassionate} → [[is] merciful | mercy; benevolence; pity] 慈悲)” in a couple of the dictionaries that are available to be installed in the Pleco app give us some clues. First, consider the entry for this expression in the Referenced Theo. Expressions (RTE) Chinese-English dictionary:
mercy (old translation); Insight article heading in Watchtower Library 2011 CHS. NWT-2019’s Appendix A2 notes 慈悲 changed to 怜悯 to avoid conveying false-religious concepts (in this case perhaps the Buddhist/Jain concept of “karuna” which can be written 慈悲, although that is not stated)
In partial confirmation, Pleco’s own CC-Canto dictionary says this about “cíbēi (cí·bēi {[is] kind} · {[is] compassionate} → [[is] merciful | mercy; benevolence; pity] 慈悲)”:
(noun) (of Buddhism) Karuṇā
For reference, Wikipedia provides these summaries regarding Karuṇā:
Karuṇā (Sanskrit: करुणा) is generally translated as compassion or mercy and sometimes as self-compassion or spiritual longing. It is a significant spiritual concept in the Indic religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism.
Karuṇā is important in all schools of Buddhism. For Theravada Buddhists, dwelling in karuṇā is a means for attaining a happy present life and heavenly rebirth. For Mahāyāna Buddhists, karuṇā is a co-requisite for becoming a Bodhisattva.
Karuṇā is associated with the Jain practice of compassion.
Indeed, we definitely would not want people to think we mean any of the above when we talk about the mercifulness of the true God Jehovah!