וְנָהָרּ֙ יֹצֵ֣א מֵעֵ֔דֶן לְהַשְׁקֹ֖ות אֶת־הַגָּ֑ן וּמִשָּׁם֙ יִפָּרֵ֔ד וְהָיָ֖ה לְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה רָאשִֽׁים׃
有一條河從伊甸流出來灌溉那園子，從那裡分成了四個源頭。
有一条河从伊甸流出来灌溉那园子，从那里分成了四个源头。
Yǒu yī tiáo hé cóng Yī diàn liú chū lái guàn gài nà yuán zi, cóng nà lǐ fēn chéng le sì gè yuán tóu.
A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divided and became four rivers.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 有 | yǒu | There is, there are | Verb |
| 一條 / 一条 | yī tiáo | One (measure word for river) | Numeral + measure word |
| 河 | hé | River | Noun |
| 從 / 从 | cóng | From | Preposition |
| 伊甸 | Yī diàn | Eden | Proper noun |
| 流出來 / 流出来 | liú chū lái | Flow out | Verb phrase |
| 灌溉 | guàn gài | Irrigate, water | Verb |
| 那 | nà | That | Demonstrative |
| 園子 / 园子 | yuán zi | Garden | Noun |
| 從那裡 / 从那里 | cóng nà lǐ | From there | Prepositional phrase |
| 分成 | fēn chéng | Divide into | Verb phrase |
| 了 | le | Indicates completion | Particle |
| 四個 / 四个 | sì gè | Four | Numeral + measure word |
| 源頭 / 源头 | yuán tóu | Source, headwaters | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 有一條河從伊甸流出來 (Yǒu yī tiáo hé cóng Yī diàn liú chū lái): Introduces the existence of a river flowing out of Eden.
- 灌溉那園子 (guàn gài nà yuán zi): Describes the river’s purpose of watering the garden.
- 從那裡分成了四個源頭 (cóng nà lǐ fēn chéng le sì gè yuán tóu): Indicates that the river divided into four branches.
Key Grammar Points:
- 有 (yǒu): Indicates existence, often translated as “there is” or “there are.”
- 從 / 从 (cóng): A preposition marking the origin of an action or movement, meaning “from.”
- 分成 (fēn chéng): A verb phrase meaning “divide into.”
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Yǒu yī tiáo hé cóng Yī diàn liú chū lái guàn gài nà yuán zi, cóng nà lǐ fēn chéng le sì gè yuán tóu.
Tone Practice:
- 有 (yǒu): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 一條 / 一条 (yī tiáo): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 河 (hé): 2nd tone (rising)
- 從 / 从 (cóng): 2nd tone (rising)
- 伊甸 (Yī diàn): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 流出來 / 流出来 (liú chū lái): 2nd tone (rising) + 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 灌溉 (guàn gài): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 那 (nà): 4th tone (falling)
- 園子 / 园子 (yuán zi): 2nd tone (rising) + neutral tone
- 從那裡 / 从那里 (cóng nà lǐ): 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 分成 (fēn chéng): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 了 (le): Neutral tone
- 四個 / 四个 (sì gè): 4th tone (falling) + neutral tone
- 源頭 / 源头 (yuán tóu): 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 河 (hé): Refers to a river, representing a natural watercourse.
- 灌溉 (guàn gài): Means “to irrigate” or “to water,” highlighting the role of the river in sustaining the garden.
- 分成 (fēn chéng): Describes the act of dividing into parts, emphasizing the branching of the river.
- 源頭 / 源头 (yuán tóu): Refers to the source or headwaters of a river, symbolizing origins.
5. Cultural Insights
- Rivers as Life-Givers: In both Hebrew and Chinese cultures, rivers are often seen as sources of life and sustenance, providing water for agriculture and supporting human and animal life.
- Branching Rivers: The division of a single river into multiple streams parallels Chinese views of balance and distribution in nature.
- Harmony with Nature: The river’s role in watering the garden reflects the harmony between natural elements and human needs, a central theme in both traditions.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 河 (hé): Imagine a winding river flowing through a lush garden.
- 灌溉 (guàn gài): Visualize water pouring over dry soil, bringing life to plants.
- 分成 (fēn chéng): Picture a river splitting into multiple streams, each going its own way.
- 源頭 / 源头 (yuán tóu): Think of the head of a river as the source of life, symbolizing beginnings.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וְנָהָרּ֙ יֹצֵ֣א מֵעֵ֔דֶן (VeNahar Yotze MeEden): → 有一條河從伊甸流出來 (Yǒu yī tiáo hé cóng Yī diàn liú chū lái): Both describe a river flowing out of Eden.
- לְהַשְׁקֹ֖ות אֶת־הַגָּ֑ן (Lehashkot Et-HaGan): → 灌溉那園子 (guàn gài nà yuán zi): Both emphasize the river’s role in watering the garden.
- וּמִשָּׁם֙ יִפָּרֵ֔ד (UMisham Yipared): → 從那裡分成 (cóng nà lǐ fēn chéng): Both describe the river dividing at a specific point.
- וְהָיָ֖ה לְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה רָאשִֽׁים (VeHayah LeArba’ah Rashim): → 成了四個源頭 (chéng le sì gè yuán tóu): Both describe the river becoming four streams or sources.
- Comparison with English:
- “A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden” aligns with 有一條河從伊甸流出來灌溉那園子 (Yǒu yī tiáo hé cóng Yī diàn liú chū lái guàn gài nà yuán zi): Both describe the river’s source and purpose.
- “And from there it divided and became four rivers” matches 從那裡分成了四個源頭 (cóng nà lǐ fēn chéng le sì gè yuán tóu): Both indicate the branching of the river into four streams.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Rivers as Life-Givers: Both cultures see rivers as vital to life, symbolizing nourishment and abundance.
- Balance in Nature: The division of the river reflects the Chinese value of balance and distribution in natural systems.
