וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַנָּחָ֖שׁ אֶל־הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה לֹֽא־מֹ֖ות תְּמֻתֽוּן׃
蛇對女人說：「你們不一定會死。」
蛇对女人说：「你们不一定会死。」
Shé duì nǚ rén shuō: “Nǐ men bù yí dìng huì sǐ.”
The serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.”
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 蛇 | shé | Serpent | Noun |
| 對 / 对 | duì | To | Preposition |
| 女人 | nǚ rén | Woman | Noun |
| 說 / 说 | shuō | To say | Verb |
| 你們 / 你们 | nǐ men | You (plural) | Pronoun |
| 不一定 | bù yí dìng | Not surely | Adverb |
| 會 / 会 | huì | Will | Modal verb |
| 死 | sǐ | To die | Verb |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 蛇對女人說 (Shé duì nǚ rén shuō): The subject “serpent” speaks to the object “woman.”
- 你們不一定會死 (Nǐ men bù yí dìng huì sǐ): Expresses the serpent’s assertion that death is not guaranteed.
Key Grammar Points:
- 不一定 (bù yí dìng): An adverbial phrase meaning “not surely” or “not necessarily.”
- 會 / 会 (huì): A modal verb indicating future action or likelihood, meaning “will” or “would.”
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Shé duì nǚ rén shuō: “Nǐ men bù yí dìng huì sǐ.”
Tone Practice:
- 蛇 (shé): 2nd tone (rising)
- 對 / 对 (duì): 4th tone (falling)
- 女人 (nǚ rén): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 說 / 说 (shuō): 1st tone (flat)
- 你們 / 你们 (nǐ men): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + neutral tone
- 不一定 (bù yí dìng): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 會 / 会 (huì): 4th tone (falling)
- 死 (sǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 蛇 (shé): Represents the serpent, often a symbol of cunning and deceit.
- 不一定 (bù yí dìng): Expresses uncertainty, meaning “not surely” or “not necessarily.”
- 會 / 会 (huì): Indicates possibility or future action, meaning “will” or “would.”
5. Cultural Insights
- Serpent as a Symbol: In Hebrew culture, the serpent represents temptation and deceit. In Chinese tradition, serpents are seen with dual symbolism—wisdom and cunning, or hidden danger.
- Speech and Persuasion: The serpent’s assertive speech reflects the universal use of rhetoric to challenge authority or create doubt, a concept present in Chinese philosophical dialogues.
- Mortality and Fear: The denial of death aligns with humanity’s universal desire to escape mortality, resonating with both Hebrew and Chinese cultural narratives about life and death.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 蛇 (shé): Picture a snake coiled around a tree, symbolizing its cunning nature.
- 不一定 (bù yí dìng): Imagine a scale tipping back and forth, representing uncertainty.
- 會 / 会 (huì): Visualize an arrow pointing forward, symbolizing future action or likelihood.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַנָּחָ֖שׁ אֶל־הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה (VaYomer HaNachash El HaIshah): → 蛇對女人說 (Shé duì nǚ rén shuō): Both describe the serpent addressing the woman.
- לֹֽא־מֹ֖ות תְּמֻתֽוּן (Lo Mot Temutun): → 你們不一定會死 (Nǐ men bù yí dìng huì sǐ): Both express the serpent’s denial of certain death.
- Comparison with English:
- “The serpent said to the woman” matches 蛇對女人說 (Shé duì nǚ rén shuō): Both describe the act of speaking.
- “You will not surely die” aligns with 你們不一定會死 (Nǐ men bù yí dìng huì sǐ): Both express doubt about the consequence of death.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Challenging Authority: The serpent’s statement mirrors Chinese philosophical debates where questioning absolute truths is a central theme.
- Mortality and Transcendence: The denial of death reflects humanity’s universal struggle with mortality, a recurring theme in Chinese literature and mythology.
