“慈悲”常见的英文表达是 mercy 或 compassion,二者在语义上有细微差别,可根据具体语境选择:
Mercy:更侧重于“怜悯”“宽恕”,强调对处于困境或应受惩罚之人给予的宽容或仁慈的对待,带有一种“不施以应得惩罚”的意味。例如:
They begged for mercy.(他们祈求宽恕。)
Show some mercy to the poor.(对穷人展现一点怜悯吧。)
Compassion:着重指“同情心”“怜悯心”,更强调内心对他人的痛苦、不幸产生的共鸣和关切,是一种情感上的同情与关怀。例如:
She felt great compassion for the homeless children.(她对那些无家可归的孩子充满了同情。)
His actions were driven by compassion.(他的行为是出于同情心。)