Ep. 321: Talking about Perseverance and Determination

Some Key Sentences in this Episode:This month, the theme at the school where I work is perseverance. Last month, the theme was determination.我工作嗰間學校，今個月嘅主題係「毅力」。上個月嘅主題係「決心」。ngo5 gung1 zok3 go2 gaan1 hok6 haau6, gam1 go3 jyut6 ge3 zyu2 tai4 hai6 “ngai6 lik6”. soeng6 go3 jyut6 ge3 zyu2 tai4 hai6 “kyut3 sam1”.When I saw this month’s theme, I actually paused and thought about it. What is the difference between determination and perseverance?當我睇到今個月嘅主題，我其實停一停諗一諗。究竟「決心」同「毅力」有咩分別呢？dong1 ngo5 tai2 dou3 gam1 go3 jyut6 ge3 zyu2 tai4, ngo5 kei4 sat6 ting4 jat1 ting4 nam2 jat1 nam2. gau3 ging2 “kyut3 sam1” tung4 “ngai6 lik6” jau5 me1 fan1 bit6 ne1?Determination is when we make a strong decision. We decide that we want to do something or reach a goal.決心就係當我哋下定決定。我哋決定要做一件事，或者達到一個目標。kyut3 sam1 zau6 hai6 dong1 ngo5 dei6 haa6 ding6 kyut3 ding3. ngo5 dei6 kyut3 ding3 jiu3 zou6 jat1 gin6 si6, waak6 ze2 daat6 dou3 jat1 go3 muk6 biu1.For example, a student may say, “I want my English to improve.” Or someone may say, “I want to learn a new skill.”例如一個學生可能會話：「我想英文有進步。」又或者有人會話：「我想學一樣新技能。」lai6 jyu4 jat1 go3 hok6 saang1 ho2 nang4 wui5 waa6: “ngo5 soeng2 jing1 man4 jau5 zeon3 bou6.” jau6 waak6 ze2 jau5 jan4 wui5 waa6: “ngo5 soeng2 hok6 jat1 joeng6 san1 gei6 nang4.”That is determination.呢個就係決心。ni1 go3 zau6 hai6 kyut3 sam1.But gradually we realize that perseverance comes later.但係我慢慢發現，原來毅力係之後嘅事情。daan6 hai6 ngo5 maan6 maan6 faat3 jin6, jyun4 loi4 ngai6 lik6 hai6 zi1 hau6 ge3 si6 cing4.After we start something, we often discover that it is not easy.當我哋開始咗一樣嘢之後，好多時會發現其實唔容易。dong1 ngo5 dei6 hoi1 ci2 zo2 jat1 joeng6 je5 zi1 hau6, hou2 do1 si4 wui5 faat3 jin6 kei4 sat6 m4 jung4 ji6.We will meet challenges and sometimes feel frustrated.慢慢就會遇到困難，亦都可能會有挫敗感。maan6 maan6 zau6 wui5 jyu6 dou3 kwan3 naan4, jik6 dou1 ho2 nang4 wui5 jau5 co3 baai6 gam2.Sometimes we feel tired. Sometimes we feel discouraged.有時我哋會覺得好攰。有時會覺得灰心。jau5 si4 ngo5 dei6 wui5 gok3 dak1 hou2 gui6. jau5 si4 wui5 gok3 dak1 fui1 sam1.But perseverance means that even in those moments, we continue.但係毅力就係——就算咁樣，我哋仍然繼續行落去。daan6 hai6 ngai6 lik6 zau6 hai6 — zau6 syun3 gam2 joeng6, ngo5 dei6 jing4 jin4 gai3 zuk6 haang4 lok6 heoi3.Perseverance is not just passive suffering. It is not simply tolerating difficulty.毅力唔係單單被動忍受。亦都唔係只係捱過困難。ngai6 lik6 m4 hai6 daan1 daan1 bei6 dung6 jan2 sau6. jik6 dou1 m4 hai6 zi2 hai6 ngaai4 gwo3 kwan3 naan4.Perseverance means we understand why we continue, and we believe what we are doing has meaning.毅力係我哋知道點解要繼續，亦都相信我哋做嘅事情係有意義嘅。ngai6 lik6 hai6 ngo5 dei6 zi1 dou6 dim2 gaai2 jiu3 gai3 zuk6, jik6 dou1 soeng1 seon3 ngo5 dei6 zou6 ge3 si6 cing4 hai6 jau5 ji3 ji6 ge3.Because of that hope, we keep moving forward.因為有呢份盼望，我哋就可以繼續行落去。jan1 wai6 jau5 ni1 fan6 paan3 mong6, ngo5 dei6 zau6 ho2 ji5 gai3 zuk6 haang4 lok6 heoi3.In daily life, we see perseverance everywhere.其實喺生活入面，我哋成日都見到毅力。kei4 sat6 hai2 sang1 wut6 jap6 min6, ngo5 dei6 seng4 jat6 dou1 gin3 dou2 ngai6 lik6.Students practice again and again until they understand something.學生會一遍又一遍練習，直到明白。hok6 saang1 wui5 jat1 pin3 jau6 jat1 pin3 lin6 zaap6, zik6 dou3 ming4 baak6.Athletes train for many years before they succeed.運動員可能要訓練好多年先成功。wan6 dung6 jyun4 ho2 nang4 jiu3 fan3 lin6 hou2 do1 nin4 sin1 sing4 gung1.Learning a language also requires perseverance.學語言其實都好需要毅力。hok6 jyu5 jin4 kei4 sat6 dou1 hou2 seoi1 jiu3 ngai6 lik6.Progress may be slow, but if we keep going, we will eventually see growth.進步有時會好慢，但只要繼續，就會慢慢見到成果。zeon3 bou6 jau5 si4 wui5 hou2 maan6, daan6 zi2 jiu3 gai3 zuk6, zau6 wui5 maan6 maan6 gin3 dou3 sing4 gwo2.