{"id":4475,"date":"2024-02-25T23:59:01","date_gmt":"2024-02-26T07:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/troubadourworks.com\/tiandi\/meotw\/?p=4475"},"modified":"2024-06-29T19:21:27","modified_gmt":"2024-06-30T02:21:27","slug":"jingming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/troubadourworks.com\/tiandi\/meotw\/2024\/02\/25\/jingming\/","title":{"rendered":"j\u012bngm\u00edng"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n\t\t\tj\u012bngm\u00edng<\/span>\n\t\t\t(j\u012bng\u00b7m\u00edng\n\t\t\t{[is] sharp; clever; shrewd; smart} \u00b7 {[is] bright \u2192 [[is] understanding]} \u2192<\/span> [[is] shrewd; astute]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7cbe\u660e)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t \u2190 Tap\/click to show\/hide the \u201cflashcard\u201d<\/span>\n<\/h3>\n\n

[Notes:<\/strong> Tap\/click on a P\u012bny\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(P\u012bn\u00b7y\u012bn\n\t\t\t{Piecing Together of} \u00b7 Sounds \u2192<\/span> [Pinyin]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u62fc\u97f3)<\/span> expression to reveal its <\/span>\u201cflashcard\u201d<\/span>; tap\/click on a <\/span>\u201cflashcard\u201d<\/span> or its P\u012bny\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(P\u012bn\u00b7y\u012bn\n\t\t\t{Piecing Together of} \u00b7 Sounds \u2192<\/span> [Pinyin]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u62fc\u97f3)<\/span> expression to hide the<\/span> \u201cflashcard\u201d<\/span>. \ud83d\udcd6<\/span> \ud83d\udcc4<\/span> \ud83d\udcd8 icons mean \ud83d\udcd6<\/span> Reveal All<\/strong>, \ud83d\udcc4<\/span> Reveal Advanced<\/strong>, and \ud83d\udcd8 Reveal None<\/strong> re all the \u201cflashcards\u201d<\/span> in the heading, paragraph, etc. that they are placed at the beginning of.]<\/p>\n

The \n\t\t\tSh\u0113ngm\u00ecng L\u00e1iz\u00ec Chu\u00e0ngz\u00e0o Ma?<\/span>\n\t\t\t((Sh\u0113ngm\u00ecng\n\t\t\tLife<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u751f\u547d)\n\t\t\t(L\u00e1i\u00b7z\u00ec\n\t\t\tCame \u00b7 From<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6765\u81ea\n\t\t\t\u4f86\u81ea<\/span>)\n\t\t\t(Chu\u00e0ng\u00b7z\u00e0o\n\t\t\tInitiating \u00b7 {Making, Creating} \u2192 [Creating]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u521b\u9020\n\t\t\t\u5275\u9020<\/span>)\n\t\t\t(Ma\n\t\t\t[? ptcl for \u201cyes\/no\u201d questions]<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5417\n\t\t\t\u55ce<\/span>)?\n\t\t\t\u2192<\/span> [Was Life Created? (lc)]<\/span>)<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i> (Was Life Created? (lc))<\/i> brochure and the \n\t\t\tSh\u0113ngm\u00ecng de Q\u01d0yu\u00e1n\u2014Zh\u00edde S\u012bk\u01ceo de W\u01d4 Ge W\u00e8nt\u00ed<\/span>\n\t\t\t((Sh\u0113ngm\u00ecng\n\t\t\tLife<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u751f\u547d)\n\t\t\t(de\n\t\t\t\u2019s<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7684)\n\t\t\t(Q\u01d0\u00b7yu\u00e1n\n\t\t\t{Rising \u2192 [Starting]} \u00b7 Source \u2192 [Origin]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u8d77\u6e90\/\u539f)\u2014(Zh\u00ed\u00b7de\n\t\t\tWorth \u00b7 Getting \u2192 [Worth]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u503c\u5f97)\n\t\t\t(S\u012b\u00b7k\u01ceo\n\t\t\t{Thinking About} \u00b7 Examining<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u601d\u8003)\n\t\t\t(de\n\t\t\t\u2019s<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7684)\n\t\t\t(W\u01d4\n\t\t\tFive<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4e94)\n\t\t\t(Ge\n\t\t\t[mw]<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4e2a\n\t\t\t\u500b\/\u4e2a<\/span>)\n\t\t\t(W\u00e8n\u00b7t\u00ed\n\t\t\tAsking \u00b7 Subjects \u2192 [Questions]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u95ee\u9898\n\t\t\t\u554f\u984c<\/span>)\n\t\t\t\u2192<\/span> [The Origin of Life\u2014Five Questions Worth Asking (lf)]<\/span>)<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i> (The Origin of Life\u2014Five Questions Worth Asking (lf))<\/i> brochure were originally published back in 2010, but recently, the English version of the Was Life Created?<\/i> 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?<\/i> brochure and the Origin of Life<\/i> 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.<\/p>\n

Be Shrewd, not Naive<\/h4>\n

Like past MEotW<\/a> \u201cti\u0101nzh\u0113n<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(ti\u0101n\u00b7zh\u0113n\n\t\t\t{(of) heaven \u2192 [natural]} \u00b7 {(following) natural instincts} \u2192<\/span> [innocent; naive; simple and unaffected | (human) nature]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5929\u771f)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> this week\u2019s MEotW, \u201cj\u012bngm\u00edng<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(j\u012bng\u00b7m\u00edng\n\t\t\t{[is] sharp; clever; shrewd; smart} \u00b7 {[is] bright \u2192 [[is] understanding]} \u2192<\/span> [[is] shrewd; astute]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7cbe\u660e)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> occurs in Proverbs 14:15, which is quoted in the introductory section of the Origin of Life<\/i> brochure, entitled, in English, \u201cA Student\u2019s Dilemma<\/a>\u201d. While the Origin of Life<\/i> brochure, published in 2010, quotes older versions of the New World Translation<\/i> Bible in its text, let us consider how this scripture is rendered in the current English and Mandarin translations of the NWT<\/i> Bible:<\/p>\n

English<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\nThe naive person believes every word,
\nBut the shrewd<\/strong> one ponders each step.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mandarin (WOL<\/a>, P\u012bny\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(P\u012bn\u00b7y\u012bn\n\t\t\t{Piecing Together of} \u00b7 Sounds \u2192<\/span> [Pinyin]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u62fc\u97f3)<\/span> Plus<\/a>):<\/p>\n

\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\ud83d\udcd6<\/span> \ud83d\udcc4<\/span> \ud83d\udcd8<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tTi\u0101nzh\u0113n<\/span>\n\t\t\t(Ti\u0101n\u00b7zh\u0113n\n\t\t\t{(of) heaven \u2192 [natural]} \u00b7 {(following) natural instincts} \u2192<\/span> [naive]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5929\u771f)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tw\u00fazh\u012b<\/span>\n\t\t\t(w\u00fa\u00b7zh\u012b\n\t\t\twithout \u00b7 {knowing \u2192 [knowledge]} \u2192<\/span> [ignorant]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u65e0\u77e5\n\t\t\t\u7121\u77e5<\/span>)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tde<\/span>\n\t\t\t(\u2019s<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7684)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tr\u00e9n<\/span>\n\t\t\t(person<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4eba)<\/span>,\n\n\t\t\tf\u00e1n<\/span>\n\t\t\t(every<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u51e1\n\t\t\t\u51e1\/\u51e2<\/span>)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\thu\u00e0<\/span>\n\t\t\t(word<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u8bdd\n\t\t\t\u8a71<\/span>)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\td\u014du<\/span>\n\t\t\t({every one}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u90fd)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tx\u00ecn<\/span>\n\t\t\t(believes<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4fe1)<\/span>;\n\n\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tJ\u012bngm\u00edng<\/span>\n\t\t\t(J\u012bng\u00b7m\u00edng\n\t\t\tshrewd \u00b7 {bright \u2192 [understanding]} \u2192<\/span> [shrewd]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7cbe\u660e)<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/strong>\n\n\t\t\tsh\u011bnsh\u00e8n<\/span>\n\t\t\t(sh\u011bn\u00b7sh\u00e8n\n\t\t\t{examining \u2192<\/span> [careful]}<\/span> \u00b7 cautious<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5ba1\u614e\n\t\t\t\u5be9\u614e<\/span>)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tde<\/span>\n\t\t\t(\u2019<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7684)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tr\u00e9n<\/span>\n\t\t\t(person<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4eba)<\/span>,\n\n\t\t\tb\u00f9b\u00f9<\/span>\n\t\t\t(b\u00f9\u00b7b\u00f9\n\t\t\tstep \u00b7 step \u2192<\/span> [at every step]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6b65\u6b65)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tli\u00fax\u012bn<\/span>\n\t\t\t(li\u00fa\u00b7x\u012bn\n\t\t\t{makes to stay} \u00b7 {heart} \u2192<\/span> [is careful]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7559\u5fc3)<\/span>.\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Looking at the morphemes<\/a> in \u201cj\u012bngm\u00edng<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(j\u012bng\u00b7m\u00edng\n\t\t\t{[is] sharp; clever; shrewd; smart} \u00b7 {[is] bright \u2192 [[is] understanding]} \u2192<\/span> [[is] shrewd; astute]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7cbe\u660e)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> \u201cj\u012bng<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t({[(having)] energy; spirit} [\u2192 [refined; excellent]] | {[is] sharp; clever; shrewd; smart} | {[is] skilled; proficient} | {[is] meticulous; precise} | essence | sperm; semen; seed<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7cbe)<\/span>\u201d<\/i> here means \u201c[is] sharp; clever; shrewd; smart\u201d. In other contexts, it can have other meanings, as it does in \u201cj\u012bngd\u00fa<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(j\u012bng\u00b7d\u00fa\n\t\t\tmeticulous \u00b7 reading<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7cbe\u8bfb\n\t\t\t\u7cbe\u8b80<\/span>)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tb\u011bn<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t({root or stem} \u2192<\/span> [edition]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u672c)<\/span>\u201d<\/i> (used in the name of the Mandarin New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)),<\/i> \u201cj\u012bngsh\u00e9n<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(spirit [\u2192 [mind; mental state; psycho-; -ism]]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7cbe\u795e)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> \u201csh\u00f2uj\u012bng lu\u01cen<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t((sh\u00f2u\u00b7j\u012bng\n\t\t\treceived \u00b7 sperm; semen; seed \u2192 [fertilized]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u53d7\u7cbe)\n\t\t\t(lu\u01cen\n\t\t\tovum; egg<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5375)\n\t\t\t\u2192<\/span> [fertilized egg\/ovum; zygote]<\/span>)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> etc.<\/p>\n

As for \u201cm\u00edng<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t({[is] bright} [\u2192 [[is] understanding]] | {[make] clear; distinct [\u2192 [sense of vision; sight | sharp-eyed; clear-sighted]]} | next (day\/year\u2026)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u660e)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> its basic literal meaning is \u201c[is] bright\u201d, and it also often has an effective meaning of \u201c[is] understanding\u201d, as it does in \u201cj\u012bngm\u00edng<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(j\u012bng\u00b7m\u00edng\n\t\t\t{[is] sharp; clever; shrewd; smart} \u00b7 {[is] bright \u2192 [[is] understanding]} \u2192<\/span> [[is] shrewd; astute]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7cbe\u660e)<\/span>\u201d<\/i> as well as in the well-known expression \u201cm\u00edngbai<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(m\u00edng\u00b7bai\n\t\t\t{[is] bright [(about)] \u2192<\/span> [[is] understanding]}<\/span> \u00b7 clearly<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u660e\u767d)<\/span>\u201d.<\/i><\/p>\n

Taken together, the morphemes in \u201cj\u012bngm\u00edng<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(j\u012bng\u00b7m\u00edng\n\t\t\t{[is] sharp; clever; shrewd; smart} \u00b7 {[is] bright \u2192 [[is] understanding]} \u2192<\/span> [[is] shrewd; astute]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7cbe\u660e)<\/span>\u201d<\/i> are used to effectively mean \u201c[is] shrewd; astute\u201d.<\/p>\n

Being Shrewd with Regard to Evolution and Creation<\/h4>\n

Those who are truly shrewd will not be swayed by the prevailing winds blowing through the \u201cair\u201d of this world, \u201cthe spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience\u201d. These prevailing winds constantly push people in the direction of believing, among other things, the baseless fairy tales of evolution, which serve \u201cthe ruler of the authority of the air\u201d, Satan the Devil, and distance us from our loving Creator Jehovah God.\u2014Ephesians 2:2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rather than just going along with the f\u0113ngq\u00ec<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(f\u0113ng\u00b7q\u00ec\n\t\t\t{winds \u2192<\/span> [common practices]}<\/span> \u00b7 {airs \u2192<\/span> [attitudes]}<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\u98ce\u6c14\n\t\t\t\u98a8\u6c23<\/span>)<\/span> of Satan\u2019s world, let us take to heart the counsel at Ephesians 4:14<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\nSo we should no longer be children, tossed about as by waves and carried here and there by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in deceptive schemes.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Being Shrewd with Regard to Learning Mandarin<\/h4>\n

Us Mandarin field language learners will also show ourselves to be shrewd if we stand firm against the prevailing winds of characters-first thinking that comes from traditional worldly Chinese culture. Such thinking serves to glorify and glamourize a vain and proud part of Satan\u2019s world, the only nation that names itself the \u201cCentral Nation\u201d (past MEotW<\/a> Zh\u014dnggu\u00f3<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(Zh\u014dng\u00b7gu\u00f3\n\t\t\tCentral \u00b7 Nation \u2192<\/span> [China]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4e2d\u56fd\n\t\t\t\u4e2d\u570b<\/span>)<\/span>)<\/i> of the world, and this kind of thinking\u2019s focus on the extraordinarily and unnecessarily complex square wheels that are Chinese characters can end up bogging down our efforts in the Mandarin field to glorify Jehovah<\/em> and give spiritual assistance to right-hearted Mandarin-speaking people.<\/p>\n

Instead of going along with the world\u2019s focus on the self-indulgently complex Chinese characters, let us focus in the Mandarin field on learning to be able to hear with comprehension and produce with clarity understandable speech<\/em>, as the Bible itself emphasizes at 1 Corinthians 14:8\u201311<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\nFor if the trumpet sounds an indistinct call, who will get ready for battle? In the same way, unless you with the tongue use speech that is easily understood<\/strong> [emphasis added\u2014Ed.<\/i>], how will anyone know what is being said? You will, in fact, be speaking into the air. It may be that there are many kinds of speech in the world, and yet no kind is without meaning. For if I do not understand the sense of the speech, I will be a foreigner to the one speaking, and the one speaking will be a foreigner to me.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Remember, while the Chinese people of times past may have invented Chinese characters, Jehovah God, who inspired the above passage of scripture, invented human language itself,<\/em> and he knows way more than the ancient Chinese did about how us humans should learn and use language. Also, Jehovah is ultimately who we are working for in the Mandarin field, so that\u2019s yet another reason to follow his<\/em> direction over that of worldly Chinese people when it comes to how we should learn and use the Mandarin language in his service.<\/p>\n

\n

Music is the sounds we hear, not the musical notation that we see \ud83c\udfbc.<\/p>\n

Mandarin is the SPEECH we hear, not the Chinese characters that we see. pic.twitter.com\/c6WacUQ3nD<\/a><\/p>\n

— Troubadour WW (@troubadourww) March 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n