Genesis 3:11

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מִ֚י הִגִּ֣יד לְךָ֔ כִּ֥י עֵירֹ֖ם אָ֑תָּה הֲמִן־הָעֵ֗ץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר צִוִּיתִ֛יךָ לְבִלְתִּ֥י אֲכָל־מִמֶּ֖נּוּ אָכָֽלְתָּ׃

耶和華說：「誰告訴你赤身露體呢？莫非你吃了我吩咐你不可吃的那棵樹上的果子嗎？」

耶和华说：「谁告诉你赤身裸体呢？莫非你吃了我吩咐你不可吃的那棵树上的果子吗？」

Yēhéhuá shuō: “Shéi gào sù nǐ chì shēn lù tǐ ne? Mò fēi nǐ chī le wǒ fēn fù nǐ bù kě chī de nà kē shù shàng de guǒ zi ma?”

The LORD said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?”

1. Vocabulary Breakdown

Chinese Character Pinyin Meaning Grammar Role
耶和華 / 耶和华 Yēhéhuá The LORD Proper noun
說 / 说 shuō To say Verb
誰 / 谁 shéi Who Question word
告訴 / 告诉 gào sù To tell Verb
你 nǐ You Pronoun
赤身露體 / 赤身裸体 chì shēn lù tǐ Naked Adjective
莫非 mò fēi Is it possible that Conjunction
吃了 chī le Ate Verb
吩咐 fēn fù To command Verb
不可 bù kě Must not Adverb
吃 chī To eat Verb
那棵樹 / 那棵树 nà kē shù That tree Noun phrase
果子 guǒ zi Fruit Noun

2. Grammar Explanation

Sentence Structure:

  • 耶和華說：「誰告訴你赤身露體呢？ (Yēhéhuá shuō: ‘Shéi gào sù nǐ chì shēn lù tǐ ne?’): The subject “the LORD” asks who told the man about his nakedness.
  • 莫非你吃了我吩咐你不可吃的那棵樹上的果子嗎？ (Mò fēi nǐ chī le wǒ fēn fù nǐ bù kě chī de nà kē shù shàng de guǒ zi ma?): A rhetorical question asking if the man ate from the forbidden tree.

Key Grammar Points:

  • 莫非 (mò fēi): A conjunction used to express doubt or suspicion, equivalent to “Is it possible that.”
  • 吩咐 (fēn fù): A verb meaning “to command” or “to instruct,” often used in formal contexts.
  • 那棵樹 / 那棵树 (nà kē shù): A noun phrase meaning “that tree,” specifying the object in question.

3. Pronunciation Practice

Pinyin: Yēhéhuá shuō: “Shéi gào sù nǐ chì shēn lù tǐ ne? Mò fēi nǐ chī le wǒ fēn fù nǐ bù kě chī de nà kē shù shàng de guǒ zi ma?”

Tone Practice:

  • 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
  • 說 / 说 (shuō): 1st tone (flat)
  • 誰 / 谁 (shéi): 2nd tone (rising)
  • 告訴 / 告诉 (gào sù): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
  • 你 (nǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
  • 赤身露體 / 赤身裸体 (chì shēn lù tǐ): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
  • 莫非 (mò fēi): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat)
  • 吃了 (chī le): 1st tone (flat) + neutral tone
  • 吩咐 (fēn fù): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
  • 不可 (bù kě): 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
  • 那棵樹 / 那棵树 (nà kē shù): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
  • 果子 (guǒ zi): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + neutral tone

4. Character Learning

Key Characters:

  • 莫非 (mò fēi): Means “is it possible that” or “could it be that,” used in rhetorical questions to express suspicion or disbelief.
  • 吩咐 (fēn fù): A formal verb meaning “to command” or “to instruct,” often implying authority.
  • 那棵樹 / 那棵树 (nà kē shù): Refers to “that tree,” combining a demonstrative pronoun (那, nà) and a classifier for trees (棵, kē).

5. Cultural Insights

  • Rhetorical Questions: Both Hebrew and Chinese languages use rhetorical questions to express surprise, doubt, or accusation, emphasizing relational accountability.
  • Authority and Obedience: The LORD’s question highlights divine authority and humanity’s responsibility, concepts resonating with Confucian ideas of hierarchical relationships and moral behavior.
  • Forbidden Actions: Eating from the tree mirrors Chinese cultural narratives about violating sacred boundaries or moral laws.

6. Mnemonics for Retention

  • 莫非 (mò fēi): Imagine someone raising an eyebrow and asking, “Could it be?” to emphasize suspicion.
  • 吩咐 (fēn fù): Picture a teacher giving instructions to students, emphasizing authority and order.
  • 那棵樹 / 那棵树 (nà kē shù): Visualize pointing at a single tree to clearly identify it from others.

7. Comparative Studies

  • Comparison with Hebrew:
    • מִ֚י הִגִּ֣יד לְךָ֔ (Mi Higgid Lekha): → 谁告诉你 (Shéi gào sù nǐ): Both ask who informed the man.
    • הֲמִן־הָעֵ֗ץ (Hamin HaEtz): → 莫非你 (Mò fēi nǐ): Both use rhetorical language to question the man’s actions.
    • אֲשֶׁ֧ר צִוִּיתִ֛יךָ (Asher Tzivvitikha): → 我吩咐你 (Wǒ fēn fù nǐ): Both describe the LORD’s command.
  • Comparison with English:
    • “Who told you that you were naked?” matches 谁告诉你赤身裸体呢 (Shéi gào sù nǐ chì shēn lù tǐ ne): Both ask about the source of the man’s awareness.
    • “Have you eaten from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?” aligns with 莫非你吃了我吩咐你不可吃的那棵树上的果子吗 (Mò fēi nǐ chī le wǒ fēn fù nǐ bù kě chī de nà kē shù shàng de guǒ zi ma): Both accuse the man of disobedience.
  • Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
    • Obedience and Guilt: The LORD’s question mirrors Confucian emphasis on responsibility and moral accountability.
    • Breaking Commandments: Eating the forbidden fruit reflects universal ideas of violating moral or sacred laws, resonating in both traditions.

 

By moxi

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