וַיִּֽהְי֤וּ שְׁנֵיהֶם֙ עֲרוּמִּ֔ים הָֽאָדָ֖ם וְאִשְׁתֹּ֑ו וְלֹ֖א יִתְבֹּשָֽׁשׁוּ׃
他們二人赤身露體，卻不感到羞恥。
他们二人赤身露体，却不感到羞耻。
Tā men èr rén chì shēn lù tǐ, què bù gǎn dào xiū chǐ.
The two of them were naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他們 / 他们 | tā men | They | Pronoun |
| 二人 | èr rén | Two people | Noun |
| 赤身露體 / 赤身露体 | chì shēn lù tǐ | Naked | Adjective phrase |
| 卻 / 却 | què | However | Adverb |
| 不 | bù | Not | Adverb |
| 感到 | gǎn dào | Feel | Verb |
| 羞恥 / 羞耻 | xiū chǐ | Shame | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 他們二人 (Tā men èr rén): Indicates the subject, “the two of them.”
- 赤身露體 (Chì shēn lù tǐ): Describes their naked state.
- 卻不感到羞恥 (Què bù gǎn dào xiū chǐ): Indicates their lack of shame despite being naked.
Key Grammar Points:
- 赤身露體 / 赤身露体 (Chì shēn lù tǐ): A fixed phrase meaning “naked.”
- 卻 / 却 (Què): An adverb indicating contrast, translated as “however” or “yet.”
- 感到 (Gǎn dào): A verb meaning “to feel” or “to sense.”
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Tā men èr rén chì shēn lù tǐ, què bù gǎn dào xiū chǐ.
Tone Practice:
- 他們 / 他们 (tā men): 1st tone (flat) + neutral tone
- 二人 (èr rén): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 赤身露體 / 赤身露体 (chì shēn lù tǐ): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 卻 / 却 (què): 4th tone (falling)
- 不 (bù): 4th tone (falling)
- 感到 (gǎn dào): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 羞恥 / 羞耻 (xiū chǐ): 1st tone (flat) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 赤身露體 / 赤身露体 (chì shēn lù tǐ): A descriptive phrase meaning “naked,” often used to indicate vulnerability or innocence.
- 羞恥 / 羞耻 (xiū chǐ): Refers to shame or embarrassment, often tied to cultural notions of modesty.
- 卻 / 却 (què): A contrasting adverb that highlights an unexpected result or situation.
5. Cultural Insights
- Innocence in Nakedness: In Hebrew culture, the lack of shame in nakedness represents purity and innocence before sin. Similarly, in Chinese philosophy, a state of naturalness and simplicity reflects harmony with one’s original nature.
- Contrasting Modesty: While modesty is highly valued in Chinese culture, the absence of shame here reflects an uncorrupted state, a concept mirrored in Daoist ideas of returning to an unblemished state of being.
- Human Relationships: The verse emphasizes the unity and trust between man and woman, aligning with Confucian ideals of harmonious relationships.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 赤身露體 / 赤身露体 (chì shēn lù tǐ): Visualize two people standing unashamed under the sun, symbolizing innocence.
- 羞恥 / 羞耻 (xiū chǐ): Imagine someone blushing in embarrassment, emphasizing the cultural weight of modesty.
- 卻 / 却 (què): Picture a bridge connecting two contrasting ideas, signifying the unexpected turn.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיִּֽהְי֤וּ שְׁנֵיהֶם֙ עֲרוּמִּ֔ים (VaYiheyu Sheneihem Arummim): → 他們二人赤身露體 (Tā men èr rén chì shēn lù tǐ): Both describe the man and woman being naked.
- וְלֹ֖א יִתְבֹּשָֽׁשׁוּ (VeLo Yitboshashu): → 卻不感到羞恥 (Què bù gǎn dào xiū chǐ): Both express the lack of shame or embarrassment.
- Comparison with English:
- “The two of them were naked, the man and his wife” matches 他們二人赤身露體 (Tā men èr rén chì shēn lù tǐ): Both describe their naked state.
- “And they were not ashamed” corresponds to 卻不感到羞恥 (Què bù gǎn dào xiū chǐ): Both convey the absence of shame.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Innocence and Harmony: The lack of shame reflects a harmonious, uncorrupted state of being, resonating with Daoist ideas of returning to simplicity.
- Human Connection: The shared nakedness without shame highlights trust and unity, akin to Confucian values of familial and relational harmony.
