וְכֹ֣ל שִׂ֣יחַ הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה טֶ֚רֶם יִֽהְיֶ֣ה בָאָ֔רֶץ וְכָל־עֵ֥שֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה טֶ֣רֶם יִצְמָ֑ח כִּי֩ לֹ֨א הִמְטִ֜יר יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאָדָ֣ם אַ֔יִן לַֽעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃
田間還沒有樹木，田間的草還沒有長起來，因為耶和華上帝還沒有降雨在地上，也沒有人成為工人來耕種土地。
田间还没有树木，田间的草还没有长起来，因为耶和华上帝还没有降雨在地上，也没有人成为工人来耕种土地。
Tián jiān hái méi yǒu shù mù, tián jiān de cǎo hái méi yǒu zhǎng qǐ lái, yīn wèi Yēhéhuá Shàngdì hái méi yǒu jiàng yǔ zài dì shàng, yě méi yǒu rén chéng wéi gōng rén lái gēng zhòng tǔ dì.
No bush of the field was yet on the earth, and no grass of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 田間 / 田间 | tián jiān | Field, countryside | Noun |
| 還沒有 / 还没有 | hái méi yǒu | Still not, not yet | Adverb phrase |
| 樹木 / 树木 | shù mù | Trees | Noun |
| 草 | cǎo | Grass | Noun |
| 長起來 / 长起来 | zhǎng qǐ lái | Grow, sprout | Verb phrase |
| 因為 / 因为 | yīn wèi | Because | Conjunction |
| 耶和華 / 耶和华 | Yēhéhuá | LORD | Proper noun |
| 上帝 | Shàngdì | God | Proper noun |
| 降雨 | jiàng yǔ | Cause rain | Verb |
| 地上 | dì shàng | Earth, ground | Noun phrase |
| 也 | yě | Also | Adverb |
| 沒有 / 没有 | méi yǒu | No, not | Adverb |
| 人 | rén | Person, man | Noun |
| 成為 / 成为 | chéng wéi | Become | Verb |
| 工人 | gōng rén | Worker, laborer | Noun |
| 耕種 / 耕种 | gēng zhòng | Till, cultivate | Verb |
| 土地 | tǔ dì | Land, soil | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 田間還沒有樹木 (tián jiān hái méi yǒu shù mù): Indicates that no trees were yet in the fields.
- 田間的草還沒有長起來 (tián jiān de cǎo hái méi yǒu zhǎng qǐ lái): States that the grass had not yet sprouted.
- 因為耶和華上帝還沒有降雨 (yīn wèi Yēhéhuá Shàngdì hái méi yǒu jiàng yǔ): Gives the reason for the lack of growth—no rain.
- 也沒有人成為工人來耕種土地 (yě méi yǒu rén chéng wéi gōng rén lái gēng zhòng tǔ dì): Explains the absence of human labor to cultivate the land.
Key Grammar Points:
- 還沒有 / 还没有 (hái méi yǒu): A phrase indicating “not yet” or “still not.”
- 因為 / 因为 (yīn wèi): A conjunction introducing the reason or cause for an event.
- 成為 / 成为 (chéng wéi): A verb meaning “to become,” marking a transition or role change.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Tián jiān hái méi yǒu shù mù, tián jiān de cǎo hái méi yǒu zhǎng qǐ lái, yīn wèi Yēhéhuá Shàngdì hái méi yǒu jiàng yǔ zài dì shàng, yě méi yǒu rén chéng wéi gōng rén lái gēng zhòng tǔ dì.
Tone Practice:
- 田間 / 田间 (tián jiān): 2nd tone (rising) + 1st tone (flat)
- 還沒有 / 还没有 (hái méi yǒu): 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 樹木 / 树木 (shù mù): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 草 (cǎo): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 長起來 / 长起来 (zhǎng qǐ lái): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 因為 / 因为 (yīn wèi): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 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)
- 降雨 (jiàng yǔ): 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 地上 (dì shàng): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 也 (yě): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 成為 / 成为 (chéng wéi): 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 工人 (gōng rén): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 耕種 / 耕种 (gēng zhòng): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 土地 (tǔ dì): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 田間 / 田间 (tián jiān): Refers to the fields or countryside, emphasizing the setting.
- 還沒有 / 还没有 (hái méi yǒu): Indicates “not yet,” showing the state of incompletion.
- 草 (cǎo): Represents grass, an essential component of the natural environment.
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): Refers to the LORD, emphasizing divine involvement.
- 耕種 / 耕种 (gēng zhòng): Means “to cultivate” or “to till,” highlighting human labor in the text.
5. Cultural Insights
- Dependence on Rain: The mention of rain reflects both Hebrew and Chinese agricultural dependence on natural cycles for growth.
- Human Role in Cultivation: The absence of human laborers aligns with both traditions’ emphasis on stewardship of the land.
- Incompletion and Waiting: The narrative of “not yet” corresponds to the Chinese value of patience and the right timing for action or growth.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 田間 / 田间 (tián jiān): Imagine standing in a vast, empty field waiting for crops to grow.
- 還沒有 / 还没有 (hái méi yǒu): Think of a seedling waiting for rain to sprout.
- 降雨 (jiàng yǔ): Picture clouds gathering and rain falling on dry land.
- 耕種 / 耕种 (gēng zhòng): Visualize a farmer tilling the soil with determination.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וְכֹ֣ל שִׂ֣יחַ הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה (VeChol Si’aḥ HaSadeh): → 田間還沒有樹木 / 田间还没有树木 (tián jiān hái méi yǒu shù mù): Both describe the absence of bushes in the field.
- כִּי֩ לֹ֨א הִמְטִ֜יר (Ki Lo Himtir): → 因為耶和華上帝還沒有降雨 (yīn wèi Yēhéhuá Shàngdì hái méi yǒu jiàng yǔ): Both explain the lack of rain as a divine action not yet taken.
- וְאָדָ֣ם אַ֔יִן (VeAdam Ayin): → 也沒有人成為工人 (yě méi yǒu rén chéng wéi gōng rén): Both emphasize the absence of humans to cultivate the land.
- Comparison with English:
- “No bush of the field” aligns with 田間還沒有樹木 / 田间还没有树木 (tián jiān hái méi yǒu shù mù): Both depict the emptiness of the land.
- “For the LORD God had not caused it to rain” corresponds to 因為耶和華上帝還沒有降雨 (yīn wèi Yēhéhuá Shàngdì hái méi yǒu jiàng yǔ): Both highlight divine timing for rain.
- “And there was no man to till the ground” matches 也沒有人成為工人來耕種土地 (yě méi yǒu rén chéng wéi gōng rén lái gēng zhòng tǔ dì): Both stress the absence of human labor.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Dependence on Nature: The absence of rain reflects the Chinese appreciation for natural harmony in agriculture.
- Human Responsibility: The lack of human laborers corresponds to Confucian values of human stewardship over the land.
