Genesis 2:22

וַיִּבֶן֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֧ים אֶֽת־הַצֵּלָ֛ע אֲשֶׁר־לָקַ֥ח מִן־הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיְבִאֶ֖הָ אֶל־הָֽאָדָֽם׃

耶和華上帝用從那人身上取下的肋骨造成一個女人,帶她到那人面前。

耶和华上帝用从那人身上取下的肋骨造成一个女人,带她到那人面前。

Yēhéhuá Shàngdì yòng cóng nà rén shēn shàng qǔ xià de lèi gǔ zào chéng yī gè nǚ rén, dài tā dào nà rén miàn qián.

The LORD God built the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man.

1. Vocabulary Breakdown

Chinese Character Pinyin Meaning Grammar Role
耶和華 / 耶和华 Yēhéhuá The LORD Proper noun
上帝 Shàngdì God Proper noun
yòng To use Verb
從 / 从 cóng From Preposition
那人 nà rén The man Noun
身上 shēn shàng From the body Prepositional phrase
取下 qǔ xià Removed Verb
肋骨 lèi gǔ Rib Noun
造成 zào chéng Made into Verb
一個 / 一个 yī gè One (measure word) Numeral + Measure word
女人 nǚ rén Woman Noun
帶 / 带 dài To bring Verb
Her Pronoun
dào To Preposition
面前 miàn qián In front of Prepositional phrase

2. Grammar Explanation

Sentence Structure:

  • 耶和華上帝用從那人身上取下的肋骨 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì yòng cóng nà rén shēn shàng qǔ xià de lèi gǔ): Describes God using the rib He removed from the man.
  • 造成一個女人 (Zào chéng yī gè nǚ rén): States that He made it into a woman.
  • 帶她到那人面前 (Dài tā dào nà rén miàn qián): Indicates God bringing the woman to the man.

Key Grammar Points:

  • 用 (yòng): A verb meaning “to use,” introducing the material or tool.
  • 從 / 从 (cóng): A preposition meaning “from,” specifying the origin of the rib.
  • 造成 (zào chéng): A verb meaning “to make into” or “to create.”

3. Pronunciation Practice

Pinyin: Yēhéhuá Shàngdì yòng cóng nà rén shēn shàng qǔ xià de lèi gǔ zào chéng yī gè nǚ rén, dài tā dào nà rén miàn qián.

Tone Practice:

  • 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
  • 上帝 (Shàngdì): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
  • 用 (yòng): 4th tone (falling)
  • 從 / 从 (cóng): 2nd tone (rising)
  • 那人 (nà rén): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)
  • 身上 (shēn shàng): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
  • 取下 (qǔ xià): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
  • 肋骨 (lèi gǔ): 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
  • 造成 (zào chéng): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)
  • 一個 / 一个 (yī gè): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
  • 女人 (nǚ rén): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
  • 帶 / 带 (dài): 4th tone (falling)
  • 她 (tā): 1st tone (flat)
  • 到 (dào): 4th tone (falling)
  • 面前 (miàn qián): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)

4. Character Learning

Key Characters:

  • 肋骨 (lèi gǔ): Refers to a rib, emphasizing the material used to create woman.
  • 造成 (zào chéng): Means “to make into” or “to create,” reflecting God’s action.
  • 帶 / 带 (dài): Indicates bringing or leading, symbolizing the introduction of woman to man.

5. Cultural Insights

  • Creation and Equality: The creation of woman from man’s rib symbolizes equality and connection, paralleling Chinese yin-yang philosophy.
  • Divine Presentation: Bringing the woman to the man reflects the importance of relationships, resonating with Confucian ideals of harmony and roles in relationships.
  • Use of Material: The careful choice of a rib highlights both physical closeness and emotional bond, akin to the Chinese concept of interconnectedness in creation.

6. Mnemonics for Retention

  • 肋骨 (lèi gǔ): Imagine a glowing rib being carefully shaped into a person.
  • 造成 (zào chéng): Visualize the act of crafting or building, like assembling a sculpture.
  • 帶 / 带 (dài): Picture leading someone by the hand, symbolizing the introduction of companions.

7. Comparative Studies

  • Comparison with Hebrew:
    • וַיִּבֶן֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֧ים אֶֽת־הַצֵּלָ֛ע (VaYiven Adonai Elohim Et HaTzela):耶和華上帝用從那人身上取下的肋骨造成 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì yòng cóng nà rén shēn shàng qǔ xià de lèi gǔ zào chéng): Both describe God making the rib into a woman.
    • וַיְבִאֶ֖הָ אֶל־הָֽאָדָֽם (VaYevi’eha El HaAdam):帶她到那人面前 (Dài tā dào nà rén miàn qián): Both depict the act of bringing the woman to the man.
  • Comparison with English:
    • “The LORD God built the rib He had taken from the man into a woman” matches 耶和華上帝用從那人身上取下的肋骨造成一個女人 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì yòng cóng nà rén shēn shàng qǔ xià de lèi gǔ zào chéng yī gè nǚ rén): Both describe the creation of woman.
    • “And brought her to the man” corresponds to 帶她到那人面前 (Dài tā dào nà rén miàn qián): Both emphasize the introduction of woman to man.
  • Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
    • Harmony in Creation: The relationship between man and woman reflects the Chinese principle of complementary forces (yin-yang).
    • Interdependence: The origin of woman from man illustrates the mutual dependence and harmony emphasized in Chinese cultural values.

 

 

By moxi

摩西