וַיְצַו֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־הָֽאָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל׃
耶和華上帝吩咐那人說：「園中各樹上的果子，你都可以吃。」
耶和华上帝吩咐那人说：「园中各树上的果子，你都可以吃。」
Yēhéhuá Shàngdì fēn fù nà rén shuō: “Yuán zhōng gè shù shàng de guǒ zi, nǐ dōu kě yǐ chī.”
The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat from every tree of the garden.”
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耶和華 / 耶和华 | Yēhéhuá | The LORD | Proper noun |
| 上帝 | Shàngdì | God | Proper noun |
| 吩咐 | fēn fù | To command | Verb |
| 那人 | nà rén | The man | Noun |
| 說 / 说 | shuō | To say | Verb |
| 園中 / 园中 | yuán zhōng | In the garden | Prepositional phrase |
| 各樹 / 各树 | gè shù | Each tree | Noun phrase |
| 上的 | shàng de | Of, on | Particle |
| 果子 | guǒ zi | Fruit | Noun |
| 你 | nǐ | You | Pronoun |
| 都 | dōu | All | Adverb |
| 可以 | kě yǐ | May, can | Verb |
| 吃 | chī | To eat | Verb |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 耶和華上帝吩咐那人說 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì fēn fù nà rén shuō): Describes God commanding the man.
- 園中各樹上的果子 (Yuán zhōng gè shù shàng de guǒ zi): Specifies “the fruit of every tree in the garden.”
- 你都可以吃 (Nǐ dōu kě yǐ chī): Indicates permission to eat all the fruit.
Key Grammar Points:
- 吩咐 (fēn fù): A formal verb meaning “to command” or “to instruct.”
- 園中 / 园中 (yuán zhōng): A prepositional phrase meaning “in the garden.”
- 可以 (kě yǐ): A modal verb expressing possibility or permission.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Yēhéhuá Shàngdì fēn fù nà rén shuō: “Yuán zhōng gè shù shàng de guǒ zi, nǐ dōu kě yǐ chī.”
Tone Practice:
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 上帝 (Shàngdì): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 吩咐 (fēn fù): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 那人 (nà rén): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 說 / 说 (shuō): 1st tone (flat)
- 園中 / 园中 (yuán zhōng): 2nd tone (rising) + 1st tone (flat)
- 各樹 / 各树 (gè shù): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 上的 (shàng de): 4th tone (falling) + neutral tone
- 果子 (guǒ zi): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + neutral tone
- 你 (nǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 都 (dōu): 1st tone (flat)
- 可以 (kě yǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 吃 (chī): 1st tone (flat)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 吩咐 (fēn fù): Represents a formal command or instruction, highlighting authority.
- 園中 / 园中 (yuán zhōng): Indicates location, meaning “in the garden.”
- 果子 (guǒ zi): Refers to fruit, symbolizing nourishment and abundance.
5. Cultural Insights
- Command and Authority: The act of commanding reflects divine authority, a concept prevalent in both Hebrew and Chinese traditions.
- Garden Imagery: Gardens symbolize abundance and harmony, themes deeply rooted in both cultural narratives.
- Freedom with Boundaries: Allowing the man to eat from every tree except one underscores the balance between freedom and obedience, a theme echoed in Chinese philosophical teachings.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 吩咐 (fēn fù): Imagine a king issuing a command to his subjects, reflecting authority and clarity.
- 園中 / 园中 (yuán zhōng): Visualize a lush garden filled with fruit-bearing trees.
- 果子 (guǒ zi): Picture ripe, colorful fruits hanging from trees, ready to be eaten.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיְצַו֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־הָֽאָדָ֖ם (VaYetzav Adonai Elohim Al-HaAdam): → 耶和華上帝吩咐那人 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì fēn fù nà rén): Both describe the LORD God commanding the man.
- מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל (MiKol Etz-HaGan Akhol Tokhel): → 園中各樹上的果子，你都可以吃 (Yuán zhōng gè shù shàng de guǒ zi, nǐ dōu kě yǐ chī): Both grant permission to eat the fruit of every tree in the garden.
- Comparison with English:
- “The LORD God commanded the man, saying” corresponds to 耶和華上帝吩咐那人說 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì fēn fù nà rén shuō): Both establish God’s authority in giving the command.
- “You may surely eat from every tree of the garden” matches 園中各樹上的果子，你都可以吃 (Yuán zhōng gè shù shàng de guǒ zi, nǐ dōu kě yǐ chī): Both express permission to eat freely from the trees.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Obedience to Authority: The concept of divine commands mirrors Confucian ideals of respect for hierarchy and obedience to authority.
- Abundance: The permission to eat freely reflects themes of harmony and abundance found in Chinese philosophical and agricultural traditions.
