慈悲

This is an old revision of the document!

cíbēi: 慈悲 - Compassion, Mercy

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: cibei, 慈悲, Chinese compassion, Buddhist compassion, mercy in Chinese, define cibei, 慈悲 meaning, cibei vs 同情, what is cibei, kindness in Chinese, Chinese philosophy
  • Summary: Discover the profound meaning of 慈悲 (cíbēi), a core concept in Chinese culture that translates to “compassion” or “mercy.” Rooted in Buddhist philosophy, 慈悲 goes beyond simple sympathy; it is a deep, active, and selfless desire to both alleviate the suffering of others and bring them happiness. This page explores its cultural significance, how it differs from Western “pity,” and its practical use in modern Chinese.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): cíbēi
  • Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective
  • HSK Level: HSK 6
  • Concise Definition: A profound and active compassion or mercy, rooted in the desire to alleviate others' suffering and bring them happiness.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of 慈悲 (cíbēi) not as just feeling sorry for someone, but as a powerful, selfless love that compels you to act. It's the combination of wanting to take away someone's pain (悲 bēi) and wanting to give them joy (慈 cí). This concept is deeply tied to Buddhist ideals of universal, unconditional love for all living beings, free from judgment or condescension.

Character Breakdown

  • 慈 (cí): This character originally depicted the love of a mother for her child. It represents a gentle, nurturing kindness, benevolence, and the active wish to bring happiness and well-being to others.
  • 悲 (bēi): This character signifies sorrow, grief, or sadness. In the context of 慈悲, it represents the empathy to feel another's pain and the strong desire to remove their suffering.
  • The combination is powerful: 慈 (cí) is about *giving joy*, and 悲 (bēi) is about *removing sorrow*. Together, they form a complete, two-part definition of true, active compassion that is central to Mahayana Buddhism and has deeply influenced East Asian culture.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • Buddhist Roots: 慈悲 (cíbēi) is a direct translation of two fundamental Buddhist concepts: *maitrī* (loving-kindness, 慈) and *karuṇā* (compassion, 悲). In Buddhism, a Bodhisattva (菩萨 púsà), such as Guanyin (观音 Guānyīn), is the ultimate embodiment of 慈悲, vowing to save all sentient beings from suffering. This gives the word a spiritual and moral weight far greater than everyday kindness.
  • Comparison to “Compassion” and “Pity”: In the West, “compassion” means to “suffer with” someone. While similar, 慈悲 is more proactive and dual-faceted (giving joy + removing pain). It's crucial to distinguish 慈悲 from “pity” (怜悯 liánmǐn). Pity often implies a sense of superiority or distance from the one suffering. 慈悲, however, is rooted in a sense of equality and shared existence—recognizing that we are all interconnected and that another's suffering is, in a sense, our own. It's an unconditional, non-judgmental empathy.
  • Related Values: The concept promotes values of selflessness, altruism, and universal love. While originating in a religious context, these values have seeped into the secular moral fabric of China, influencing ethics in medicine, social work, and personal philosophy.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Formal and Literary Contexts: 慈悲 is a fairly formal and profound word. You'll often hear it in religious or philosophical discussions, in literature, and in formal speeches about morality. It's not typically used for trivial matters.
  • Describing People: It's used to describe a person of profound kindness and moral stature. You might describe a benevolent doctor, a forgiving elder, or a dedicated philanthropist as having a 慈悲 heart (有一颗慈悲的心).
  • In Pleas and Idioms: It can be used to mean “mercy.” For instance, someone might beg a superior to “show mercy” (发发慈悲 fāfa cíbēi). There is also a famous idiom: 对敌人慈悲，就是对自己残忍 (duì dírén cíbēi, jiùshì duì zìjǐ cánrěn), meaning “To be compassionate to your enemy is to be cruel to yourself,” which shows a context where 慈悲 can be framed as a potential weakness.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 观音菩萨是慈悲的化身。
    • Pinyin: Guānyīn Púsà shì cíbēi de huàshēn.
    • English: The Bodhisattva Guanyin is the embodiment of compassion.
    • Analysis: This is a classic example linking 慈悲 directly to its Buddhist origins. 化身 (huàshēn) means “incarnation” or “embodiment.”
  • Example 2:
    • 医生应该对病人有慈悲之心。
    • Pinyin: Yīshēng yīnggāi duì bìngrén yǒu cíbēi zhī xīn.
    • English: Doctors should have a heart of compassion for their patients.
    • Analysis: Here, 慈悲 is used in a secular, professional context to describe a deep and selfless sense of care. 之心 (zhī xīn) literally means “heart of,” a common literary structure.
  • Example 3:
    • 老板，求您发发慈悲，再给我一次机会吧！
    • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, qiú nín fāfa cíbēi, zài gěi wǒ yī cì jīhuì ba!
    • English: Boss, I beg you to show some mercy and give me another chance!
    • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 慈悲 to mean “mercy” in a plea. 发慈悲 (fā cíbēi) is a set verb phrase meaning “to show compassion/mercy.”
  • Example 4:
    • 他慈悲地原谅了伤害过他的人。
    • Pinyin: Tā cíbēi de yuánliàngle shānghài guò tā de rén.
    • English: He compassionately forgave the person who had hurt him.
    • Analysis: Here, 慈悲 is used as an adverb (慈悲地) to describe the manner of forgiveness, implying it comes from a place of deep understanding rather than mere obligation.
  • Example 5:
    • 对敌人慈悲就是对自己残忍。
    • Pinyin: Duì dírén cíbēi jiùshì duì zìjǐ cánrěn.
    • English: To be compassionate to the enemy is to be cruel to yourself.
    • Analysis: A famous idiom showing the “negative” side of 慈悲, where it can be seen as a dangerous vulnerability in a conflict.
  • Example 6:
    • 他的眼神里充满了慈悲。
    • Pinyin: Tā de yǎnshén lǐ chōngmǎnle cíbēi.
    • English: His eyes were full of compassion.
    • Analysis: A descriptive, almost poetic use of the word. 眼神 (yǎnshén) refers to the expression in one's eyes.
  • Example 7:
    • 法官没有表现出丝毫的慈悲。
    • Pinyin: Fǎguān méiyǒu biǎoxiàn chū sīháo de cíbēi.
    • English: The judge showed not a shred of mercy.
    • Analysis: This shows 慈悲 used in a legal context to mean “mercy” or “clemency.” 丝毫 (sīháo) means “the slightest bit.”
  • Example 8:
    • 真正的慈悲不是施舍，而是尊重。
    • Pinyin: Zhēnzhèng de cíbēi bùshì shīshě, érshì zūnzhòng.
    • English: True compassion is not charity, but respect.
    • Analysis: This sentence highlights a key philosophical point, distinguishing 慈悲 from pity or condescending charity (施舍 shīshě).
  • Example 9:
    • 看到灾区人民的苦难，她心中生起了无限的慈悲。
    • Pinyin: Kàndào zāiqū rénmín de kǔnàn, tā xīnzhōng shēng qǐle wúxiàn de cíbēi.
    • English: Seeing the suffering of the people in the disaster area, boundless compassion arose in her heart.
    • Analysis: This describes the feeling of 慈悲 welling up in response to seeing suffering. 生起 (shēng qǐ) means “to arise” or “to be generated.”
  • Example 10:
    • 这种慈悲的行为感动了在场的所有人。
    • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng cíbēi de xíngwéi gǎndòngle zàichǎng de suǒyǒu rén.
    • English: This act of compassion moved everyone present.
    • Analysis: Here, 慈悲 is an adjective modifying a noun, 行为 (xíngwéi), “act” or “behavior.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 慈悲 (cíbēi) vs. 同情 (tóngqíng) - Compassion vs. Sympathy: This is the most common point of confusion.
    • 同情 (tóngqíng) is “sympathy.” It means you understand and share someone's feelings. You can “sympathize” with a friend who failed an exam. It's an everyday emotion.
    • 慈悲 (cíbēi) is much deeper. It's a profound desire to act to relieve that suffering. You would feel 慈悲 for victims of war or famine. Using 慈悲 for a minor issue like a failed exam would sound overly dramatic.
  • 慈悲 (cíbēi) vs. 怜悯 (liánmǐn) - Compassion vs. Pity:
    • 怜悯 (liánmǐn) is “pity.” It often carries a connotation of looking down on someone from a position of strength or superiority. It creates distance.
    • 慈悲 is based on a sense of equality and universal connection. It is free of judgment and condescension.
  • “False Friend”: Mercy. While 慈悲 can be translated as “mercy,” the English word is strongly associated with the context of justice, power, and punishment (e.g., a judge shows mercy to a criminal). 慈悲 is broader; it's a fundamental state of being that includes both alleviating pain and proactively giving joy, often outside the context of justice.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 同情 (tóngqíng) - “Sympathy”; a more common, everyday feeling of shared emotion.
  • 怜悯 (liánmǐn) - “Pity”; often implies a sense of superiority over the one suffering.
  • 善良 (shànliáng) - “Kindness, good-hearted”; a general term for a good personal character. 慈悲 is a more profound and specific type of kindness.
  • 仁爱 (rén'ài) - “Benevolence, humane love”; a core concept in Confucianism, similar to 慈悲 but with a different philosophical origin.
  • 宽恕 (kuānshù) - “To forgive”; an act that can stem from a feeling of 慈悲.
  • 菩萨 (púsà) - “Bodhisattva”; an enlightened being in Buddhism who embodies perfect 慈悲.
  • 观音 (Guānyīn) - The Bodhisattva of Compassion, often called the “Goddess of Mercy” in English.
  • 发慈悲 (fā cíbēi) - A common verb phrase meaning “to show compassion” or “to have mercy.”
  • 残忍 (cánrěn) - “Cruel, brutal”; the direct antonym of 慈悲.