וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־הֵחֵ֣ל הָֽאָדָ֔ם לָרֹ֖ב עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה וּבָנֹ֖ות יֻלְּד֥וּ לָהֶֽם׃
當人開始在地面上增多，生了許多女兒，
当人开始在地面上增多，生了许多女儿，
Dāng rén kāishǐ zài dìmiàn shàng zēngduō, shēngle xǔduō nǚ’ér,
When people began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 當 / 当 | dāng | When | Conjunction |
| 人 | rén | People | Noun |
| 開始 / 开始 | kāishǐ | Begin | Verb |
| 在 | zài | At, on | Preposition |
| 地面 | dìmiàn | Ground, surface | Noun |
| 上 | shàng | On | Preposition |
| 增多 | zēngduō | Multiply, increase | Verb |
| 生 | shēng | To give birth | Verb |
| 了 | le | Particle indicating completed action | Particle |
| 許多 / 许多 | xǔduō | Many | Adjective |
| 女兒 / 女儿 | nǚ’ér | Daughters | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
- 當 / 当 (dāng): Used here as a conjunction to indicate “when” something happened.
- 開始 / 开始 (kāishǐ): “Begin,” used to describe the start of an action or event.
- 增多 (zēngduō): “Multiply” or “increase,” referring to the growing population of humans.
- 許多 / 许多 (xǔduō): “Many,” used as a quantifier for “daughters.”
3. Pronunciation Practice
- 當 / 当 (dāng): [dāng] – High-level tone.
- 人 (rén): [rén] – Rising tone.
- 開始 / 开始 (kāishǐ): [kāi shǐ] – “Kāi” has a high-level tone, and “shǐ” has a falling-rising tone.
- 女兒 / 女儿 (nǚ’ér): [nǚ ér] – “Nǚ” has a falling-rising tone, and “ér” has a rising tone.
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 當 / 当 (dāng): “When,” used to indicate a specific point in time.
- 女兒 / 女儿 (nǚ’ér): “Daughters,” highlighting the offspring in this context.
- 增多 (zēngduō): “Multiply” or “increase,” reflecting the growth of the human population.
5. Cultural Insights
- Population Growth: The mention of population increase emphasizes the fulfillment of the divine command to “be fruitful and multiply.”
- Role of Daughters: In many cultures, daughters have traditionally played key roles in family dynamics and social structures, often symbolizing continuity and nurture.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 當 / 当 (dāng): Associate “when” with the sound of a clock striking the hour, indicating time.
- 女兒 / 女儿 (nǚ’ér): Remember daughters as the continuation of humanity, tying into the concept of family and growth.
- 增多 (zēngduō): Link “multiply” with the image of seeds growing into abundant plants.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew: The Hebrew phrase “וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־הֵחֵ֣ל הָֽאָדָ֔ם לָרֹ֖ב” translates closely to the Chinese rendering “當人開始在地面上增多,” maintaining the idea of population growth.
- Comparison with Chinese Culture: The focus on population growth and family resonates with traditional Chinese values of family lineage and the importance of descendants.
8. Application
This passage reminds us of the importance of community and growth. In today’s world, it can inspire reflection on how we contribute to the well-being and development of our families and societies. The emphasis on daughters also highlights the value of every individual in the continuation of humanity, encouraging equality and appreciation for all members of a community.
