cíbēi: 慈悲 - Compassion, Mercy

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.