וַיִּיצֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֗ם עָפָר֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וַיִּפַּ֥ח בְּאַפָּ֖יו נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים וַֽיְהִ֥י הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה׃
耶和華上帝用地上的塵土造人，將生命的氣息吹在他的鼻孔裡，人就成了有生命的活人。
耶和华上帝用地上的尘土造人，将生命的气息吹在他的鼻孔里，人就成了有生命的活人。
Yēhéhuá Shàngdì yòng dì shàng de chén tǔ zào rén, jiāng shēng mìng de qì xī chuī zài tā de bí kǒng lǐ, rén jiù chéng le yǒu shēng mìng de huó rén.
The LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耶和華 / 耶和华 | Yēhéhuá | LORD | Proper noun |
| 上帝 | Shàngdì | God | Proper noun |
| 用 | yòng | Use | Verb |
| 地上 | dì shàng | Earth, ground | Noun phrase |
| 塵土 / 尘土 | chén tǔ | Dust | Noun |
| 造 | zào | Create, make | Verb |
| 人 | rén | Man, human | Noun |
| 將 / 将 | jiāng | To, into | Preposition |
| 生命 | shēng mìng | Life | Noun |
| 氣息 / 气息 | qì xī | Breath | Noun |
| 吹 | chuī | Breathe, blow | Verb |
| 鼻孔 | bí kǒng | Nostrils | Noun |
| 裡 / 里 | lǐ | In, inside | Postposition |
| 就 | jiù | Then | Adverb |
| 成了 | chéng le | Became | Verb |
| 有 | yǒu | Have | Verb |
| 活人 | huó rén | Living being | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 耶和華上帝用地上的塵土造人 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì yòng dì shàng de chén tǔ zào rén): Describes the LORD God creating man from the dust of the earth.
- 將生命的氣息吹在他的鼻孔裡 (jiāng shēng mìng de qì xī chuī zài tā de bí kǒng lǐ): Describes God breathing the breath of life into the man’s nostrils.
- 人就成了有生命的活人 (rén jiù chéng le yǒu shēng mìng de huó rén): States the result of man becoming a living being.
Key Grammar Points:
- 用 (yòng): Indicates the means or instrument used in the action, “with” or “using.”
- 將 / 将 (jiāng): Marks the object being acted upon, often translated as “to” or “into.”
- 就 (jiù): An adverb showing causation or immediacy, meaning “then” or “thus.”
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Yēhéhuá Shàngdì yòng dì shàng de chén tǔ zào rén, jiāng shēng mìng de qì xī chuī zài tā de bí kǒng lǐ, rén jiù chéng le yǒu shēng mìng de huó rén.
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)
- 地上 (dì shàng): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 塵土 / 尘土 (chén tǔ): 2nd tone (rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 造 (zào): 4th tone (falling)
- 人 (rén): 2nd tone (rising)
- 將 / 将 (jiāng): 1st tone (flat)
- 生命 (shēng mìng): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 氣息 / 气息 (qì xī): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat)
- 吹 (chuī): 1st tone (flat)
- 鼻孔 (bí kǒng): 2nd tone (rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 裡 / 里 (lǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 就 (jiù): 4th tone (falling)
- 成了 (chéng le): 2nd tone (rising) + neutral tone
- 活人 (huó rén): 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 塵土 / 尘土 (chén tǔ): Represents dust or earth, symbolizing the material from which man was created.
- 生命 (shēng mìng): Refers to life, emphasizing the divine breath as the source of vitality.
- 氣息 / 气息 (qì xī): Indicates breath, a vital force connecting life and divinity.
- 成了 (chéng le): Marks transformation or becoming, showing the completion of man’s creation.
- 活人 (huó rén): Describes a living being, emphasizing humanity’s unique status as alive and animated.
5. Cultural Insights
- Creation from Earth: The idea of forming man from the dust reflects both Hebrew and Chinese views of humans being tied to the earth, symbolizing humility and dependence on nature.
- Breath as Life: The divine breath mirrors Chinese concepts like “qi” (气), which represents the vital energy sustaining life.
- Transformation: The narrative of man becoming a living being resonates with the Daoist understanding of transformation as a divine process.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 塵土 / 尘土 (chén tǔ): Picture dust swirling in the wind, symbolizing raw material for creation.
- 氣息 / 气息 (qì xī): Imagine the breath of life as a soft wind entering the nostrils.
- 成了 (chéng le): Visualize a completed sculpture transforming into a living being.
- 活人 (huó rén): Think of a person standing upright, vibrant with life and energy.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיִּיצֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים (VaYitzer YHWH Elohim): → 耶和華上帝用…造人 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì yòng…zào rén): Both describe God creating man using dust from the earth.
- וַיִּפַּ֥ח בְּאַפָּ֖יו נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים (VaYipach BeAppav Nishmat Chayyim): → 將生命的氣息吹在他的鼻孔裡 (jiāng shēng mìng de qì xī chuī zài tā de bí kǒng lǐ): Both depict the breath of life being given to man.
- וַֽיְהִ֥י הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה (VaYehi HaAdam LeNefesh Chayyah): → 人就成了有生命的活人 (rén jiù chéng le yǒu shēng mìng de huó rén): Both describe the result of man becoming a living being.
- Comparison with English:
- “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground” corresponds to 耶和華上帝用地上的塵土造人 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì yòng dì shàng de chén tǔ zào rén): Both describe the act of forming man from dust.
- “And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” aligns with 將生命的氣息吹在他的鼻孔裡 (jiāng shēng mìng de qì xī chuī zài tā de bí kǒng lǐ): Both depict giving life to man through divine breath.
- “And man became a living being” matches 人就成了有生命的活人 (rén jiù chéng le yǒu shēng mìng de huó rén): Both emphasize man’s transformation into a living entity.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Earth and Creation: The use of dust connects with the Chinese belief that humans are part of nature and return to it.
- Breath as Vital Energy: The divine breath parallels the Chinese concept of “qi” (气) as the essence of life.
- Divine Transformation: The transition from dust to life mirrors Daoist ideas of transformation and balance.
