{"id":5187,"date":"2024-09-02T15:04:56","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T22:04:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/troubadourworks.com\/tiandi\/meotw\/?p=5187"},"modified":"2024-10-27T02:37:48","modified_gmt":"2024-10-27T09:37:48","slug":"shutu%e2%80%90tonggui","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/troubadourworks.com\/tiandi\/meotw\/2024\/09\/02\/shutu%e2%80%90tonggui\/","title":{"rendered":"sh\u016bt\u00fa\u2010t\u00f3nggu\u012b"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n\t\t\tsh\u016bt\u00fa\u2010t\u00f3nggu\u012b<\/span>\n\t\t\t((sh\u016b\u00b7t\u00fa\n\t\t\t{[are] different} \u00b7 ways; roads; routes<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6b8a\u9014)\u2010(t\u00f3ng\u00b7gu\u012b\n\t\t\t{[are the] same} \u00b7 {coming together}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u540c\u5f52\n\t\t\t\u540c\u6b78<\/span>)\n\t\t\t\u2192<\/span> [[are] different roads\/routes\/etc. to the same place\/destination\/goal\/etc.]<\/span>)<\/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

One of the publications that is now recommended to be used on Bible studies is the \n\t\t\tY\u01d2ngyu\u01cen Xi\u01cengsh\u00f2u M\u011bih\u01ceo de Sh\u0113ngm\u00ecng\u2014H\u00f9d\u00f2ng Sh\u00ec Sh\u00e8ngj\u012bng K\u00e8ch\u00e9ng<\/span>\n\t\t\t((Y\u01d2ng\u00b7yu\u01cen\n\t\t\tEternally \u00b7 {Far (in Time)}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6c38\u8fdc\n\t\t\t\u6c38\u9060<\/span>)\n\t\t\t(Xi\u01ceng\u00b7sh\u00f2u\n\t\t\tEnjoy \u00b7 Receive<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4eab\u53d7)\n\t\t\t(M\u011bi\u00b7h\u01ceo\n\t\t\tBeautiful \u00b7 Good<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7f8e\u597d)\n\t\t\t(de\n\t\t\t\u2019s<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7684)\n\t\t\t(Sh\u0113ngm\u00ecng\n\t\t\tLife<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u751f\u547d)\u2014(H\u00f9\u00b7d\u00f2ng\n\t\t\t{Each Other} \u00b7 Moving \u2192 [Interactive]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4e92\u52a8\n\t\t\t\u4e92\u52d5<\/span>)\n\t\t\t(Sh\u00ec\n\t\t\t(Type<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5f0f)\n\t\t\t(Sh\u00e8ng\u00b7j\u012bng\n\t\t\tHoly \u00b7 Scriptures \u2192 [Bible]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5723\u7ecf\n\t\t\t\u8056\u7d93<\/span>)\n\t\t\t(K\u00e8\u00b7ch\u00e9ng\n\t\t\tLessons \u00b7 Procedure \u2192 [Course]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u8bfe\u7a0b\n\t\t\t\u8ab2\u7a0b<\/span>)\n\t\t\t\u2192<\/span> [Enjoy Life Forever!\u2014An Interactive Bible Course (lff)]<\/span>)<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i> (Enjoy Life Forever! (lff)<\/i>) book. This week\u2019s MEotW, \u201csh\u016bt\u00fa\u2010t\u00f3nggu\u012b<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t((sh\u016b\u00b7t\u00fa\n\t\t\t{[are] different} \u00b7 ways; roads; routes<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6b8a\u9014)\u2010(t\u00f3ng\u00b7gu\u012b\n\t\t\t{[are the] same} \u00b7 {coming together}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u540c\u5f52\n\t\t\t\u540c\u6b78<\/span>)\n\t\t\t\u2192<\/span> [[are] different roads\/routes\/etc. to the same place\/destination\/goal\/etc.]<\/span>)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> appears in lesson 13, point 4 of this book:<\/p>\n

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

\nMany people believe that religions are like different roads that all lead to God.<\/strong> But is that true?\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\tX\u01d4du\u014d<\/span>\n\t\t\t(X\u01d4\u00b7du\u014d\n\t\t\tnumbers \u00b7 many<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u8bb8\u591a\n\t\t\t\u8a31\u591a<\/span>)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tr\u00e9n<\/span>\n\t\t\t(people<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4eba)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tr\u00e8nw\u00e9i<\/span>\n\t\t\t(r\u00e8n\u00b7w\u00e9i\n\t\t\tidentify \u00b7 {(it) to be}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u8ba4\u4e3a\n\t\t\t\u8a8d\u70ba<\/span>)<\/span>,\n\n\t\t\tsu\u01d2y\u01d2u<\/span>\n\t\t\t(su\u01d2\u00b7y\u01d2u\n\t\t\t{(all) which} \u00b7 {(there) are having \u2192 [(there) are]} \u2192<\/span> [all]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6240\u6709)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tz\u014dngji\u00e0o<\/span>\n\t\t\t(z\u014dng\u00b7ji\u00e0o\n\t\t\t{schools of thought} \u00b7 teachings \u2192<\/span> [religions]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5b97\u6559)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\td\u014du<\/span>\n\t\t\t(all<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u90fd)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tsh\u016bt\u00fa\u2010t\u00f3nggu\u012b<\/span>\n\t\t\t((sh\u016b\u00b7t\u00fa\n\t\t\t{are different} \u00b7 roads<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6b8a\u9014)\u2010(t\u00f3ng\u00b7gu\u012b\n\t\t\t{are the same} \u00b7 {coming together}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u540c\u5f52\n\t\t\t\u540c\u6b78<\/span>)\n\t\t\t\u2192<\/span> [are different roads to the same place]<\/span>)<\/span>,\n\t\t\t<\/strong>\n\n\t\t\td\u00e0n<\/span>\n\t\t\t(but<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u4f46)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tzh\u00e8<\/span>\n\t\t\t(this<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u8fd9\n\t\t\t\u9019<\/span>)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tsh\u00ec<\/span>\n\t\t\t(is<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u662f)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tzh\u0113n<\/span>\n\t\t\t(true<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u771f)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tde<\/span>\n\t\t\t({\u2019s (thing)}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7684)<\/span>\n\n\t\t\tma<\/span>\n\t\t\t(<\/i>[? ptcl for \u201cyes\/no\u201d questions]<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5417\n\t\t\t\u55ce<\/span>)<\/span>?\n\n\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Morphemic Breakdown<\/h4>\n

The first morpheme<\/a> in this week\u2019s MEotW, \u201csh\u016b<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(different [\u2192 [special; outstanding; remarkable]]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6b8a)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> literally means \u201cdifferent\u201d. It can in some contexts effectively mean \u201cspecial; outstanding; remarkable\u201d, which helps explain its appearance in such expressions as \u201ct\u00e8sh\u016b<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(t\u00e8\u00b7sh\u016b\n\t\t\t{[is] special; particular; unusual; exceptional} \u00b7 {[is] different [\u2192 [[is] special; outstanding; remarkable; unusual]]}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u7279\u6b8a)<\/span>\u201d<\/i> and \u201csh\u016br\u00f3ng<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(sh\u016b\u00b7r\u00f3ng\n\t\t\t{different \u2192<\/span> [special; outstanding; remarkable]}<\/span> \u00b7 honour; glory<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6b8a\u8363\n\t\t\t\u6b8a\u69ae<\/span>)<\/span>\u201d.<\/i><\/p>\n

The next morpheme, \u201ct\u00fa<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(road; route; journey; way; path; course<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u9014\/\u6d82\n\t\t\t\u9014\/\u5857<\/span>)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> means \u201croad; route; journey; way; path; course\u201d. Other Mandarin expressions that make use of it include \u201cm\u00edt\u00fa<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(m\u00ed\u00b7t\u00fa\n\t\t\tlost \u00b7 way; road; route [\u2192 [lost one\u2019s way]]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u8ff7\u9014)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> \u201cq\u00edt\u00fa<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(q\u00ed\u00b7t\u00fa\n\t\t\t{[(wrong)] branch} \u00b7 road; route; journey; way<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6b67\u9014)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> and, notably, \u201cqi\u00e1nt\u00fa<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(qi\u00e1n\u00b7t\u00fa\n\t\t\tahead \u00b7 road \u2192<\/span> [future; prospects]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u524d\u9014)<\/span>\u201d.<\/i><\/p>\n

The third morpheme, \u201ct\u00f3ng<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(same; similar | {together [with]}; {in common}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u540c\n\t\t\t\u540c\/\u4edd<\/span>)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> is an often-used one that basically means \u201csame\u201d, as it does in \u201ct\u00f3ngy\u00e0ng<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(t\u00f3ng\u00b7y\u00e0ng\n\t\t\t{[(in the)] same} \u00b7 kind; type; appearance; shape; {pattern; form [\u2192 [way]]} [of]<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u540c\u6837\n\t\t\t\u540c\u6a23<\/span>)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> for example.<\/p>\n

The last morpheme, \u201cgu\u012b<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t({return to} | {belong to} | {turn over to} | converge; {gather\/come together}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5f52\n\t\t\t\u6b78<\/span>)<\/span>\u201d,<\/i> can mean \u201creturn to\u201d, \u201cbelong to\u201d, \u201cturn over to\u201d, or \u201cconverge; gather\/come together\u201d, as it does in this week\u2019s MEotW. Other Mandarin expressions in which it appears include \u201cgu\u012bhu\u00ed<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t(gu\u012b\u00b7hu\u00ed\n\t\t\treturn \u00b7 {to circle back [to]}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5f52\u56de\n\t\t\t\u6b78\u56de<\/span>)<\/span>\u201d<\/i> and \u201cw\u00fa\u2010ji\u0101\u2010k\u011b\u2010gu\u012b<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t((w\u00fa\n\t\t\twithout<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u65e0\n\t\t\t\u7121\/\u65e0<\/span>)\u2010(ji\u0101\n\t\t\thome<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5bb6)\u2010(k\u011b\n\t\t\t{(that) can}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u53ef)\u2010(gu\u012b\n\t\t\t{be returned to}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u5f52\n\t\t\t\u6b78<\/span>)\n\t\t\t\u2192<\/span> [homeless]<\/span>)<\/span>\u201d.<\/i><\/p>\n

Taken together, the constituent morphemes in \u201csh\u016bt\u00fa\u2010t\u00f3nggu\u012b<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t((sh\u016b\u00b7t\u00fa\n\t\t\t{[are] different} \u00b7 ways; roads; routes<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u6b8a\u9014)\u2010(t\u00f3ng\u00b7gu\u012b\n\t\t\t{[are the] same} \u00b7 {coming together}<\/span>\n\t\t\t\u540c\u5f52\n\t\t\t\u540c\u6b78<\/span>)\n\t\t\t\u2192<\/span> [[are] different roads\/routes\/etc. to the same place\/destination\/goal\/etc.]<\/span>)<\/span>\u201d<\/i> effectively mean \u201c[are] different roads\/routes\/etc. to the same place\/destination\/goal\/etc.\u201d As the Enjoy Life Forever!<\/i> book points out, many believe that this concept applies to the different religions, but the Bible, for example, at Matthew 7:13, 14<\/a>, plainly teaches otherwise.<\/p>\n

One True Religion, Exclusive Devotion<\/h4>\n

Sadly, some people allow this to become a big issue for them. Years ago, I had a call who in many ways seemed like a good call. He was unusual in that he was young, but was a devout Buddhist who was seriously into Buddhism, not just someone who was merely going along with his Buddhist parents. We had a few long, seemingly good discussions, but one thing that he firmly believed was that it was acceptable for us to practise different religions and worship different gods. After a while, he attended a public talk that I gave in which I used the illustration that God requires his true worshippers to practise the one true religion and to be exclusively devoted to him, just like a husband requires exclusive devotion from his wife, and unfortunately, he lost interest after that. I felt bad because of what happened, but a brother reminded me that not everyone has the right heart condition to progress in the truth.\u2014Acts 13:48<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Indeed, for one to make real spiritual progress, one must be willing to take to heart God\u2019s clearly stated views, rather than stubbornly sticking to one\u2019s own preferred ideas regardless of what God has said about them. Such acceptance of God\u2019s direction is the only way for one to truly have a good relationship with him, as opposed to one just viewing and treating Almighty God like a butler who exists (if one even really believes he exists) merely to satisfy one\u2019s whims.<\/p>\n

Different Ways to Learn Mandarin?<\/h4>\n

Just as many find the idea that different religions are just different roads to the same place to be appealing, many also like to believe that there are different acceptable ways to learn Mandarin, including focusing on learning Chinese characters, as encouraged by many traditionally-minded Mandarin teachers. It may be true to an extent that different ways of learning Mandarin can produce acceptable results. However, if we truly want to make best use of our dedicated, limited time and resources in the Mandarin field, we should keep some basic, objective truths in mind, as pointed out in the article \u201cSPEECH is Top Priority, Not Characters<\/a>\u201d:<\/p>\n

\nIt\u2019s good if some have already learned to use characters, but for those of us who are learning Mandarin for the Mandarin field, our focus<\/em> should really be on understanding Mandarin speech<\/em><\/strong> and speaking<\/em> Mandarin understandably<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

\n

Your first<\/em> linguistic goal<\/strong> should be to \u201cutter speech easily understood<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d [emphasis added] (1 Corinthians 14:8-11) Though people may be tolerant, mistakes or a heavy accent may distract them from listening to your message. Giving attention to proper pronunciation and grammar right from the start will prevent you from forming bad habits that are hard to break.
\n\t\t\u2014\u201cServing With a Foreign-Language Congregation\u201d<\/a>, in the March 15, 2006 Watchtower<\/i>.<\/p>\n

8<\/strong> For if the trumpet sounds an indistinct call, who will get ready for battle? 9<\/strong> In the same way, unless you with the tongue use speech that is easily understood<\/em><\/strong> [emphasis added], how will anyone know what is being said? You will, in fact, be speaking into the air. 10<\/strong> It may be that there are many kinds of speech in the world, and yet no kind is without meaning. 11<\/strong> 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\t\t\u20141 Corinthians 14:8\u201311<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026just like it\u2019s an established fact that the earth is round, according to modern linguistics (the scientific study of language) this is also an established fact: \u201cSpeech is primary, writing is secondary and is always derivative of speech.<\/strong><\/a>\u201d This scientific truth about language, that Jehovah built us and wired us to primarily communicate meaning through speech<\/em>, supports what 1 Corinthians 14:8\u201311<\/a> (quoted above) says about understandable speech<\/em> being of prime importance to Christian evangelizers. \u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026publishers need to learn to understand Mandarin speech<\/em> to benefit spiritually from Mandarin meetings, because the talks, comments, etc. at such meetings are made of Mandarin speech<\/em>, not characters.<\/strong> In fact, focusing on characters makes this problem worse because it makes learning Mandarin speech harder and slower. At the very least, it distracts from learning Mandarin speech.<\/p>\n

\u2026<\/p>\n

Characters focus mainly on themselves, and are at best a scenic route<\/em> to learning Mandarin speech, while P\u012bny\u012bn<\/i> is a fast, direct route<\/em> to learning Mandarin speech. As rescue workers in the Mandarin field, rather than tourists, we must give top priority to the fastest, most effective way to help those in the field, not to the way that features cultural attractions for us to see.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Different roads indeed!<\/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 Enjoy Life Forever!<\/i> book is:<\/p>\n