{"id":5170,"date":"2024-08-26T00:19:40","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T07:19:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/troubadourworks.com\/tiandi\/meotw\/?p=5170"},"modified":"2024-11-17T11:15:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-17T19:15:48","slug":"waku","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/troubadourworks.com\/tiandi\/meotw\/2024\/08\/26\/waku\/","title":{"rendered":"w\u0101ku"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n\t\t\tw\u0101ku<\/span>\n\t\t\t(w\u0101\u00b7ku\n\t\t\t{dig; gouge [\u2192 [scratch]]} \u00b7 {to be bitter \u2192 [to be causing suffering]} \u2192<\/span> [speak sarcastically\/ironically; make cutting remarks]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6316\u82e6)<\/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 relatively 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

\u201cNot the Purpose of This Material\u201d<\/h4>\n

This week\u2019s MEotW, which appears in the section of the Mandarin Was Life Created?<\/i> brochure entitled \u201cN\u01d0<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(You<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4f60)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tXi\u0101ngx\u00ecn<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(Xi\u0101ng\u00b7x\u00ecn\n\t\t\tIt \u00b7 {Do Believe} \u2192<\/span> [Do Believe]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u76f8\u4fe1)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tSh\u00e9nme<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(Sh\u00e9n\u00b7me\n\t\t\tWhat \u00b7 [suf]<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4ec0\u4e48\n\t\t\t\u4ec0\/\u751a\u9ebc<\/span>)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tNe<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(<\/i>[? ptcl]<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5462)<\/span>?\u201d<\/i> (\u201cWhat Do You Believe?\u201d), is \u201cw\u0101ku<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(w\u0101\u00b7ku\n\t\t\t{dig; gouge [\u2192 [scratch]]} \u00b7 {to be bitter \u2192 [to be causing suffering]} \u2192<\/span> [speak sarcastically\/ironically; make cutting remarks]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6316\u82e6)<\/span>\u201d:<\/i><\/p>\n

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

\nIt is not the purpose of this material to ridicule<\/strong> the views either of fundamentalists or of those who choose not to believe in God.\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\ud83d\udcd6<\/span> \ud83d\udcc4<\/span> \ud83d\udcd8<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tW\u01d2men<\/span>\n\t\t\t(w\u01d2\u00b7men\n\t\t\twe \u00b7 [pl]<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6211\u4eec\n\t\t\t\u6211\u5011<\/span>)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tch\u016bb\u01cen<\/span>\n\t\t\t(ch\u016b\u00b7b\u01cen\n\t\t\t{have put out} \u00b7 {printing block of \u2192 [edition of]} \u2192<\/span> [have published]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u51fa\u7248)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tzh\u00e8i<\/span>\n\t\t\t(this<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u8fd9\n\t\t\t\u9019<\/span>)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tb\u011bn<\/span>\n\t\t\t({root or stem of a} \u2192<\/span> [mw for books, etc.]<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\u672c)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tc\u00e8zi<\/span>\n\t\t\t(c\u00e8\u00b7zi\n\t\t\tbrochure \u00b7 [suf for nouns]<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\u518c\u5b50\n\t\t\t\u518a\u5b50<\/span>)<\/span>,\n\n\t\t\tb\u00ecng<\/span>\n\t\t\t(actually<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5e76\n\t\t\t\u4e26\/\u7add\/\u5e76<\/span>)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tb\u00fa<\/span>\n\t\t\t(not<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4e0d)<\/span>\n\n \t\t\tsh\u00ec<\/span>\n\t\t\t(are<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u662f)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\ty\u00e0o<\/span>\n\t\t\t(wanting<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u8981)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tw\u0101ku<\/span>\n\t\t\t(w\u0101\u00b7ku\n\t\t\t{to gouge \u2192 [to scratch]} \u00b7 {to be bitter \u2192 [to be causing suffering to]} \u2192<\/span> [to speak sarcastically about]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6316\u82e6)<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/strong>\n\n\t\t\ty\u01d0sh\u00e0ng<\/span>\n\t\t\t(y\u01d0\u00b7sh\u00e0ng\n\t\t\tat \u00b7 above\u2019s<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4ee5\u4e0a)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\u00e0n<\/span>\n\t\t\t({in accordance with}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6309)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tz\u00ecmi\u00e0n<\/span>\n\t\t\t(z\u00ec\u00b7mi\u00e0n\n\t\t\tcharacters\u2019 \u00b7 {face \u2192 [surface]} \u2192<\/span> [being literal]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5b57\u9762)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tl\u01d0ji\u011b<\/span>\n\t\t\t(l\u01d0\u00b7ji\u011b\n\t\t\t{(with) reason} \u00b7 {untie \u2192 [solve]} \u2192<\/span> [understand]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7406\u89e3)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tSh\u00e8ngj\u012bng<\/span>\n\t\t\t(Sh\u00e8ng\u00b7j\u012bng\n\t\t\t(the) Holy \u00b7 Scriptures \u2192<\/span> [the Bible]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5723\u7ecf\n\t\t\t\u8056\u7d93<\/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(persons<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4eba)<\/span>,\n\n\t\t\ty\u011b<\/span>\n\t\t\t(also<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4e5f)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tb\u00fa<\/span>\n\t\t\t(not<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4e0d)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tsh\u00ec<\/span>\n\t\t\t(are<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u662f)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\ty\u00e0o<\/span>\n\t\t\t(wanting<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u8981)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tj\u012bqi\u00e0o<\/span>\n\t\t\t(j\u012b\u00b7qi\u00e0o\n\t\t\t{to ridicule} \u00b7 {to criticize}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u8ba5\u8bee\n\t\t\t\u8b4f\u8a9a<\/span>)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tb\u00fa<\/span>\n\t\t\t(not<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4e0d)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tx\u00ecn<\/span>\n\t\t\t({do believe in}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4fe1)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tSh\u00e0ngd\u00ec<\/span>\n\t\t\t(Sh\u00e0ng\u00b7d\u00ec\n\t\t\tAbove\u2019s \u00b7 {Emperor \u2192 [God]} \u2192<\/span> [God]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4e0a\u5e1d)<\/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(persons<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4eba)<\/span>.\n\n\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As can be seen from the above quotes, the Mandarin Was Life Created?<\/i> brochure uses \t\t\t\u201cw\u0101ku<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(w\u0101\u00b7ku\n\t\t\t{dig; gouge [\u2192 [scratch]]} \u00b7 {to be bitter \u2192 [to be causing suffering]} \u2192<\/span> [speak sarcastically\/ironically; make cutting remarks]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6316\u82e6)<\/span>\u201d<\/i> (along with \u201cj\u012bqi\u00e0o<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(j\u012b\u00b7qi\u00e0o\n\t\t\tridicule; mock; satirize \u00b7 reproach; blame; criticize<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u8ba5\u8bee\n\t\t\t\u8b4f\u8a9a<\/span>)<\/span>\u201d)<\/i> to correspond with \u201cridicule\u201d.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Dig a Hole for Yourself<\/h4>\n

As for \u201ck\u01d4<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(bitter | {being bitter \u2192<\/span> [hardship; suffering; pain | painstakingly]}<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\u82e6)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> this expression literally means \u201cbitter\u201d, and it can also be used to effectively mean \u201cpain\u201d or \u201csuffering\u201d, as it does in \u201csh\u00f2uk\u01d4<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(sh\u00f2u\u00b7k\u01d4\n\t\t\treceive \u00b7 {being bitter \u2192<\/span> [hardship; suffering; pain]}<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\u53d7\u82e6)<\/span>\u201d.<\/i><\/p>\n

So, the morphemes in \u201cw\u0101ku<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(w\u0101\u00b7ku\n\t\t\t{dig; gouge [\u2192 [scratch]]} \u00b7 {to be bitter \u2192 [to be causing suffering]} \u2192<\/span> [speak sarcastically\/ironically; make cutting remarks]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6316\u82e6)<\/span>\u201d<\/i> come together to, on a certain level of literalness, mean something like \u201cgouge or scratch to the point of bitterness\u201d, and to effectively mean \u201cspeak sarcastically\/ironically about; make cutting remarks about\u201d.<\/p>\n

It may be tempting to ridicule or be sarcastic towards those who have not yet studied and accepted the information from God\u2019s organization about evolution and creation as we have, especially if we happen to be able to relatively quickly or easily see how illogical and erroneous their viewpoints are. However, our doing so may contribute to escalating discussions in negative directions. It\u2019s true that we should bear witness to the truth like Jesus did, and that Jesus at times spoke quite forcefully and condemned those who opposed him, but he could be far more certain than we can be about what\u2019s really in people\u2019s hearts, and also, his position and authority are not the same as ours.\u2014John 18:37<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cEast is East, and West is West\u201d<\/h4>\n

In the Mandarin field, we should also especially keep in mind the backgrounds of those we speak to. Many of these Mandarin-speakers grew up and were educated in a society that is in some ways even more materialistic and atheistic than modern Western society. While many in the West have at least heard of and thought of the Bible and its teachings and accounts, many Mandarin-speakers may not even have gotten that far with regard to Bible knowledge. To many of them, the Bible\u2019s accounts are not only myths and stories, they are other people\u2019s<\/em> myths and stories.<\/p>\n

So, let us seek to follow the example of the Was Life Created?<\/i> brochure by trying our best to avoid either purposefully or inadvertantly \u2018gouging to the point of bitterness\u2019 as we seek to present to Mandarin-speakers information about the Bible\u2019s account of creation.<\/p>\n

\n

For convenience:<\/p>\n

The direct link for the current generation 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 resource for the Was Life Created?<\/i> brochure is:<\/p>\n

The \u201cw\u0101<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(dig; excavate; {scoop out}; gouge [\u2192 [scratch]]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6316)<\/span>\u201d<\/i> in \u201cw\u0101ku<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(w\u0101\u00b7ku\n\t\t\t{dig; gouge [\u2192 [scratch]]} \u00b7 {to be bitter \u2192 [to be causing suffering]} \u2192<\/span> [speak sarcastically\/ironically; make cutting remarks]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6316\u82e6)<\/span>\u201d<\/i> can literally mean \u201cdig\u201d, \u201cexcavate\u201d, or \u201cgouge\u201d, and can effectively mean \u201cscratch\u201d. This morpheme<\/a> also appears in the expression \u201cw\u0101ju\u00e9<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(w\u0101\u00b7ju\u00e9\n\t\t\tdig; excavate \u00b7 dig<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6316\u6398)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> which is used in the \u201cSH\u0112NR\u00d9<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(SH\u0112N\u00b7R\u00d9\n\t\t\tDEEPLY \u00b7 {GOING IN}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6df1\u5165)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tW\u0100JU\u00c9<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(W\u0100\u00b7JU\u00c9\n\t\t\tEXCAVATE \u00b7 DIG<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6316\u6398)<\/span>\u201d<\/i> (\u201cDIG DEEPER\u201d) headings in the Enjoy Life Forever!<\/i> book.<\/p>\n