Genesis 3:12

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הָֽאָדָ֑ם הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תָּה עִמָּדִ֔י הִ֛וא נָֽתְנָה־לִּ֥י מִן־הָעֵ֖ץ וָאֹכֵֽל׃

那人說：「祢所賜給我與我同住的女人，她給了我那樹上的果子，我就吃了。」

那人说：「祢所赐给我与我同住的女人，她给了我那树上的果子，我就吃了。」

Nà rén shuō: “Nǐ suǒ cì gěi wǒ yǔ wǒ tóng zhù de nǚ rén, tā gěi le wǒ nà shù shàng de guǒ zi, wǒ jiù chī le.”

The man said, “The woman You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

1. Vocabulary Breakdown

Chinese Character Pinyin Meaning Grammar Role
那人 nà rén The man Noun phrase
說 / 说 shuō To say Verb
祢 Nǐ You (respectful form) Pronoun
所賜 / 所赐 suǒ cì What was given Verb phrase
給 / 给 gěi To give Verb
我 wǒ Me, I Pronoun
與 / 与 yǔ With Conjunction
同住 tóng zhù To live together Verb phrase
女人 nǚ rén Woman Noun
她 tā She Pronoun
給了 / 给了 gěi le Gave Verb
那樹 / 那树 nà shù That tree Noun phrase
上的 shàng de On Preposition
果子 guǒ zi Fruit Noun
我就 / 我就 wǒ jiù I then Adverbial phrase
吃了 chī le Ate Verb

2. Grammar Explanation

Sentence Structure:

  • 那人說：「祢所賜給我與我同住的女人 (Nà rén shuō: ‘Nǐ suǒ cì gěi wǒ yǔ wǒ tóng zhù de nǚ rén’): The subject “the man” describes the woman as a gift from the LORD.
  • 她給了我那樹上的果子 (Tā gěi le wǒ nà shù shàng de guǒ zi): Explains the woman’s action of giving fruit from the tree.
  • 我就吃了 (Wǒ jiù chī le): Concludes with the man’s response of eating the fruit.

Key Grammar Points:

  • 所賜 / 所赐 (suǒ cì): Indicates what was given, used to emphasize the action of giving.
  • 與 / 与 (yǔ): A conjunction meaning “with,” showing the relationship between the man and the woman.
  • 就 (jiù): An adverb showing immediacy or logical consequence.

3. Pronunciation Practice

Pinyin: Nà rén shuō: “Nǐ suǒ cì gěi wǒ yǔ wǒ tóng zhù de nǚ rén, tā gěi le wǒ nà shù shàng de guǒ zi, wǒ jiù chī le.”

Tone Practice:

  • 那人 (nà rén): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)
  • 說 / 说 (shuō): 1st tone (flat)
  • 祢 (Nǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
  • 所賜 / 所赐 (suǒ cì): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
  • 給 / 给 (gěi): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
  • 我 (wǒ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
  • 與 / 与 (yǔ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
  • 同住 (tóng zhù): 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling)
  • 女人 (nǚ rén): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
  • 她 (tā): 1st tone (flat)
  • 給了 / 给了 (gěi le): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + neutral tone
  • 那樹 / 那树 (nà 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
  • 我就 / 我就 (wǒ jiù): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
  • 吃了 (chī le): 1st tone (flat) + neutral tone

4. Character Learning

Key Characters:

  • 所賜 / 所赐 (suǒ cì): Refers to “what was given,” used to highlight the action of gifting.
  • 與 / 与 (yǔ): A conjunction meaning “with,” showing companionship or relationship.
  • 給 / 给 (gěi): A verb meaning “to give,” commonly used in both formal and casual contexts.
  • 果子 (guǒ zi): Means “fruit,” often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts in Chinese literature.

5. Cultural Insights

  • Blaming Others: The man’s response reflects a tendency in many cultures, including Chinese, to shift responsibility to others when confronted with wrongdoing.
  • Companionship as a Gift: The description of the woman as a divine gift resonates with Confucian ideals of harmonious relationships and mutual support.
  • Symbolism of Fruit: In both Hebrew and Chinese traditions, fruit often symbolizes knowledge, temptation, or consequence.

6. Mnemonics for Retention

  • 所賜 / 所赐 (suǒ cì): Imagine a beautifully wrapped gift labeled “given by the LORD.”
  • 女人 (nǚ rén): Picture a woman standing beside the man as his companion.
  • 果子 (guǒ zi): Visualize a bright, tempting fruit hanging on a tree.

7. Comparative Studies

  • Comparison with Hebrew:
    • הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תָּה עִמָּדִ֔י (HaIsha Asher Natata Imadi): → 祢所賜給我與我同住的女人 (Nǐ suǒ cì gěi wǒ yǔ wǒ tóng zhù de nǚ rén): Both describe the woman as a gift from the LORD.
    • הִ֛וא נָֽתְנָה־לִּ֥י מִן־הָעֵ֖ץ (Hi Natnah Li Min HaEtz): → 她給了我那樹上的果子 (Tā gěi le wǒ nà shù shàng de guǒ zi): Both explain the act of giving fruit.
    • וָאֹכֵֽל (VaOchel): → 我就吃了 (Wǒ jiù chī le): Both describe the man’s action of eating the fruit.
  • Comparison with English:
    • “The woman You gave to be with me” matches 祢所賜給我與我同住的女人 (Nǐ suǒ cì gěi wǒ yǔ wǒ tóng zhù de nǚ rén): Both emphasize the woman as a companion and a divine gift.
    • “She gave me from the tree” corresponds to 她給了我那樹上的果子 (Tā gěi le wǒ nà shù shàng de guǒ zi): Both describe the act of giving the fruit.
    • “And I ate” aligns with 我就吃了 (Wǒ jiù chī le): Both describe the man’s decision to eat the fruit.
  • Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
    • Responsibility and Blame: The man’s response reflects a universal tendency to avoid responsibility, a theme also present in Chinese narratives about moral accountability.
    • Divine Gifts: The idea of the woman as a gift aligns with Confucian ideals of harmony and the importance of relationships.
    • Symbolism of Fruit: Both traditions see fruit as representing temptation, consequence, or forbidden knowledge.

 

 

By moxi

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