וַיִּקְרָ֨א הָֽאָדָ֜ם שֵׁמֹ֗ות לְכָל־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּלְעֹ֣וף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּלְכֹ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּלְאָדָ֕ם לֹֽא־מָצָ֥א עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדֹּֽו׃
那人給一切牲畜、空中的飛鳥和野地的走獸起了名字；只是那人沒有找到一個配偶幫助他。
那人给一切牲畜、空中的飞鸟和野地的走兽起了名字；只是那人没有找到一个配偶帮助他。
Nà rén gěi yī qiè shēng chù, kōng zhōng de fēi niǎo hé yě dì de zǒu shòu qǐ le míng zì; zhǐ shì nà rén méi yǒu zhǎo dào yī gè pèi ǒu bāng zhù tā.
The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the heavens, and to every beast of the field, but for the man, there was not found a helper fit for him.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 那人 | nà rén | The man | Noun |
| 給 / 给 | gěi | To give | Verb |
| 一切 | yī qiè | All, everything | Noun |
| 牲畜 | shēng chù | Livestock | Noun |
| 空中的 | kōng zhōng de | Of the sky, in the air | Adjective |
| 飛鳥 / 飞鸟 | fēi niǎo | Birds | Noun |
| 野地的 | yě dì de | Of the field | Adjective |
| 走獸 / 走兽 | zǒu shòu | Beasts | Noun |
| 起了 | qǐ le | Named, gave names | Verb |
| 名字 | míng zì | Name | Noun |
| 只是 | zhǐ shì | But, only | Conjunction |
| 沒有 / 没有 | méi yǒu | Did not, have not | Verb |
| 找到 | zhǎo dào | Found | Verb |
| 一個 / 一个 | yī gè | One | Numeral + Measure word |
| 配偶 | pèi ǒu | Companion, helper | Noun |
| 幫助 / 帮助 | bāng zhù | Help | Verb |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 那人給一切牲畜…起了名字 (Nà rén gěi yī qiè shēng chù…qǐ le míng zì): Describes the man naming the animals.
- 只是那人沒有找到一個配偶幫助他 (Zhǐ shì nà rén méi yǒu zhǎo dào yī gè pèi ǒu bāng zhù tā): Indicates that the man did not find a suitable helper.
Key Grammar Points:
- 只是 (zhǐ shì): A conjunction introducing a contrast, meaning “but” or “only.”
- 沒有 / 没有 (méi yǒu): Expresses absence or negation, meaning “did not” or “have not.”
- 找到 (zhǎo dào): Indicates successful completion of the action of searching, meaning “found.”
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Nà rén gěi yī qiè shēng chù, kōng zhōng de fēi niǎo hé yě dì de zǒu shòu qǐ le míng zì; zhǐ shì nà rén méi yǒu zhǎo dào yī gè pèi ǒu bāng zhù tā.
Tone Practice:
- 那人 (nà rén): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 給 / 给 (gěi): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 一切 (yī qiè): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 牲畜 (shēng chù): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 空中的 (kōng zhōng de): 1st tone (flat) + 1st tone (flat) + neutral tone
- 飛鳥 / 飞鸟 (fēi niǎo): 1st tone (flat) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 野地的 (yě dì de): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling) + neutral tone
- 走獸 / 走兽 (zǒu shòu): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 起了 (qǐ le): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + neutral tone
- 名字 (míng zì): 2nd tone (rising) + neutral tone
- 只是 (zhǐ shì): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 沒有 / 没有 (méi yǒu): 2nd tone (rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 找到 (zhǎo dào): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 一個 / 一个 (yī gè): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 配偶 (pèi ǒu): 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 幫助 / 帮助 (bāng zhù): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 牲畜 (shēng chù): Refers to livestock, emphasizing the variety of creatures named by the man.
- 走獸 / 走兽 (zǒu shòu): Denotes beasts of the field, showcasing the diversity of land animals.
- 名字 (míng zì): Highlights the concept of naming, symbolizing authority and relationship.
5. Cultural Insights
- Naming as Authority: In Hebrew culture, naming signifies authority and responsibility. Similarly, in Chinese tradition, naming correctly reflects Confucian values of social order.
- Human-Animal Relationship: The act of naming animals demonstrates human responsibility over creation, a theme echoed in Chinese philosophies of harmony with nature.
- Companionship and Community: The absence of a suitable companion highlights the human need for relationships, a concept central to both Hebrew and Chinese cultural narratives.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 牲畜 (shēng chù): Visualize a barnyard full of animals, representing livestock.
- 走獸 / 走兽 (zǒu shòu): Imagine wild beasts roaming the fields, emphasizing their natural habitat.
- 名字 (míng zì): Picture the man holding a scroll, writing names for each creature as they are presented.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיִּקְרָ֨א הָֽאָדָ֜ם שֵׁמֹ֗ות (VaYiqra HaAdam Shemot): → 那人給一切牲畜起了名字 (Nà rén gěi yī qiè shēng chù qǐ le míng zì): Both describe the man naming the animals.
- וּלְאָדָ֕ם לֹֽא־מָצָ֥א עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדֹּֽו (UL’Adam Lo-Matza Ezer Kenegdo): → 只是那人沒有找到一個配偶幫助他 (Zhǐ shì nà rén méi yǒu zhǎo dào yī gè pèi ǒu bāng zhù tā): Both highlight the absence of a suitable companion for the man.
- Comparison with English:
- “The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the heavens, and to every beast of the field” matches 那人給一切牲畜、空中的飛鳥和野地的走獸起了名字 (Nà rén gěi yī qiè shēng chù, kōng zhōng de fēi niǎo hé yě dì de zǒu shòu qǐ le míng zì): Both describe the naming process.
- “But for the man there was not found a helper fit for him” corresponds to 只是那人沒有找到一個配偶幫助他 (Zhǐ shì nà rén méi yǒu zhǎo dào yī gè pèi ǒu bāng zhù tā): Both express the man’s need for a companion.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Responsibility through Naming: Naming animals aligns with Confucian ideals of assigning roles and responsibilities to maintain harmony.
- Search for Companionship: The search for a suitable helper reflects the universal value of interpersonal relationships, significant in both Hebrew and Chinese traditions.
