I have been sharing them in Facebook. But FB does not have a good search function unlike Google+ and what are I shared in my FB Status get lost very quickly. So here is a compilation of the words shared. I will continue to update this post when new words are shared. Chinese tells you see thing from both sides(Multiple viewpoints) and watch the context. Enjoy.
1. Crisis 危机
We are all well aware of the word Crisis 危机. Crisis in Chinese is made up of Danger and Opportunity. There is opportunity in every crisis and danger in every opportunity. In crisis, we learn to see the opportunity. In growth, we learn to see the danger and do risk-management.
2. Sensibility or Reasonableness 情理
Now, I like to share another word, Reasonableness or Good Sense 情理.
Two things are needed to make something reasonable or sensible - it is emotion and rationale. Either alone is not enough. It must rational and emotionally acceptable (or good for relationship).
This is good advice for business. It is the secret of Apple success and failure of many. Apple products appeals to both the mind and the emotion. Zig Ziglar even said "People don't buy for logical reasons. They buy for emotional reasons.". But actually we buy for both - we buy not a product but a wow experience.
It is important for nation building. I think we over-emphasize too much rationals, the mind, the tasks, the meritocracy to the extend that we ignore the emotions, the feelings of people and don't understand how to build good relationships with people and even other nations. That neglect stops us from being a better people, a more successful people, and a nation that people admire with love.
We must learn to do both well, rational mind and a feeling hearts for good relationship building.
3. Morality or Moral 道德
The third word to share is Morality or Moral. In Chinese, it is 道德.
It is made up of Dao 道 - the Way ( of heaven, God, universe, the right way). and
De 德 - which is Virtue or Character. Strictly speaking, De is how much one has acquired of the Way (of Righteousness). 德 in old Chinese is used also as 得 obtain or gain.
Morality has to be defined as two parts -
1. knowing the right WAY and
2. Assimilation(Becoming, Obtaining) of the Way.
Again, either is not enough. Not knowing the right Way means one is not moral. Knowing and not behaving according to the right way is not moral.
To be a moral person, we must know the Way and becoming like the Way.
So, the morality of a person is measured as how much one has acquired of the Way (of righteousness).
If you are a Christian, the way to measure the quality of maturity of a Christian is how much they have become like their Savior Jesus Christ. Rom 8:29 (ESV) For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. Christ is the Way!
Hope you can see the power of Chinese.
4. Life 生命.
Life is a common word. Life in Chinese is 生命.
生 sheng is Birth or Born.
命 ming is Order, Destination, Mission and Fate for some people.
Hence, Life is not just about being born into this world and is mere existence. Life is about living to fulfill a mission or calling.
The purpose of life is not just about living, but living meaningfully. Living with a mission.
Each of us has uniquely created for a mission that only we can fulfilled.
By doing the mission we are called, we shall be satisfied. We are given the strengths and talents to do this unique mission.
It also means that we are not to live the calling of other people. When we are trying to be somebody else, because we are gifted for it, we shall be struggling and will never be like someone. Don't waste your life trying to somebody you are not made for.
That does not mean we cannot have role models. We shall have quite a few role models so that we can become the very best that we are called to be.
Hope you like Chinese and become a better person.
5. Remember 记 Remembrance 纪念 or 记忆 Write and Recall
To remember, Chinese uses the word 记 Ji which means to record. We usually use the word 记忆 to refer to the mental storage of past events and things. To remember someone, we use the word 纪念.
The word remember or record 记 is made up for two words 己 I and 言 saying. This means that my saying is the record. Make a record and see if I keep my words! I recalled a western cowboy movie that I watched in my youth. The Red Indian Chief was telling the white Captain something like "white men treaty was recorded down to be forgotten and was not trustworthy whereas they recorded them in their hearts to be remembered and kept".
If you use the two words version, 纪念 or 记忆, we can see that remembering is made up of two things:
纪念: 纪 records (in book or tablets) 念 recite it, often in the heart and mind.
记忆: 记 record, write it down 忆: recall it.
To truly memorize things, we need to do two things: write it down and read or say it back!
6. Intellectual Capability /Knowledge 学问
One's intellectual capability or scholarship or knowledge in Chinese is 学问. It is made up of 学study and 问ask. Effective learning is about studying (reading or hearing) some article and then asking questions. Asking or Questioning is a key part of learning. Studying without asking is not learning in depth. Greater understanding can only be gain questioning what we have studied. Some simple and good technique to guide us to ask questions are the 5W1H and the Yin-Yang (Bi-polar, Dialectics).
Learning can also be done the other way round, start with a question and then try to find the answers.
Just remember that learning has two parts, studying and asking.
For some, they should be asking more and for others they should be studying more, It takes two be give better understanding and insight for a particular subject.
Intellectual Capability = Studying + Questioning
7. Forgive 原谅 Original/Source + True Understanding
Forgive in Chinese is 原谅
原 - the original
谅 - the true understanding. 谅 is made up of 京(Large) 言(Speech) (note Chinese goes from right to left). So whale is a large fish and is written as 鲸.
So forgiveness is actually returning back to the original true understanding or state.
It is as if the hurtful thing has not happened at all.
Forgiveness is easier when we understand the reason and motivation for the hurtful act.
Forgiveness is also possible when the offending party sincerely and seriously apologizes (Large Speech).
A true apology that seeks forgiveness is about saying in words sincerely and the action to restore the damages back to the original state if it be possible. Many things done are not reversible. It takes the great heart of the offended to impute it as if it did not happen.
So if you say you truly forgive someone, you are saying and treating him as if he did not do the hurtful act to you. At the very least, you can remember the deed but not the hurtful feeling.
The Bible tells us that God's forgiveness is precisely like that - just as if we did not sin!
8. Wisdom 智慧 is Left-Brain Cold Logic and Right Brain Creativity and Warm Feelings
See Wisdom in Chinese includes Both Left & Right Brain...
More to come.... You can contribute too by giving your comments.
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