וַיִּגְוַ֞ע כָּל־בָּשָׂ֣ר הָרֹמֵ֣שׂ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ בָּעֹ֤וף וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּבַ֣חַיָּ֔ה וּבְכָל־הַשֶּׁ֖רֶץ הַשֹּׁרֵ֣ץ עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכֹ֖ל הָאָדָֽם׃
地上所有爬行的血肉之軀，包括飛鳥、牲畜、走獸，和爬在地上的昆蟲，以及所有人，都死了。
地上所有爬行的血肉之躯，包括飞鸟、牲畜、走兽，和爬在地上的昆虫，以及所有人，都死了。
Dì shàng suǒyǒu páxíng de xiěròu zhī qū, bāokuò fēiniǎo, shēngchù, zǒushòu, hé pá zài dìshàng de kūnchóng, yǐjí suǒyǒu rén, dōu sǐle.
And all flesh that moved on the earth perished—birds, livestock, beasts, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and all mankind.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 地上 | Dì shàng | On the earth | Noun |
| 所有 | suǒyǒu | All | Adjective |
| 爬行 | páxíng | Creeping, crawling | Verb |
| 血肉之軀 / 血肉之躯 | xiěròu zhī qū | Flesh | Noun |
| 包括 | bāokuò | Including | Verb |
| 飛鳥 / 飞鸟 | fēiniǎo | Birds | Noun |
| 牲畜 | shēngchù | Livestock | Noun |
| 走獸 / 走兽 | zǒushòu | Beasts | Noun |
| 昆蟲 / 昆虫 | kūnchóng | Insects | Noun |
| 所有人 | suǒyǒu rén | All people | Noun |
| 死了 | sǐ le | Died | Verb |
2. Grammar Explanation
- 地上所有 (dì shàng suǒyǒu): “All on the earth” emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the destruction.
- 血肉之軀 / 血肉之躯 (xiěròu zhī qū): “Flesh” literally means “body of blood and flesh,” a vivid expression for living beings.
- 包括 (bāokuò): “Including,” introduces the specific categories of creatures affected.
- 死了 (sǐ le): “Died,” indicates the total annihilation of life in this context.
3. Pronunciation Practice
- 地上 (dì shàng): [dì shàng] – “Dì” has a falling tone, and “shàng” also has a falling tone.
- 血肉之軀 / 血肉之躯 (xiěròu zhī qū): [xiě ròu zhī qū] – “Xiě” has a falling-rising tone, “ròu” has a falling tone, and “qū” has a high-level tone.
- 死了 (sǐ le): [sǐ le] – “Sǐ” has a falling-rising tone, and “le” has a neutral tone.
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 血肉之軀 / 血肉之躯 (xiěròu zhī qū): Refers to living beings, emphasizing the fragility and mortality of flesh.
- 包括 (bāokuò): “Including,” a connector that enumerates all categories of affected beings.
- 死了 (sǐ le): “Died,” a direct and impactful description of the destruction.
5. Cultural Insights
- Flood Myths Across Cultures: Many Chinese myths, like the story of Yu the Great, address massive floods and their destructive impacts. The biblical flood parallels these stories, emphasizing both judgment and renewal.
- The Fragility of Life: Both the Bible and Chinese philosophy, such as Confucianism, emphasize the vulnerability of human life and the necessity of moral living to avoid calamities.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 血肉之軀 / 血肉之躯 (xiěròu zhī qū): Visualize all living beings made of blood and flesh, emphasizing their fragility.
- 死了 (sǐ le): Picture the finality of death as a result of the flood’s overwhelming power.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew: The Hebrew text emphasizes the breadth of destruction, encompassing every category of life. This parallels the Chinese text’s comprehensive listing of affected creatures.
- Comparison with Chinese: The Chinese translation captures the totality and gravity of the event, similar to the biblical account. This reflects traditional Chinese emphasis on cosmic harmony and the consequences of its disruption.
8. Application
This passage challenges readers to reflect on humanity’s impact on the world and the consequences of moral corruption. From a Chinese perspective, it echoes the importance of living in harmony with nature and maintaining ethical integrity. Just as the flood reset the balance in the biblical narrative, the story invites contemporary audiences to consider how their actions affect both the environment and the broader human community.
