Genesis 3:13 – Learn Chinese Bible

耶和華上帝問女人：「你做了什麼？」女人回答說：「那蛇誘騙了我，我就吃了。」

The LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Chinese Character	Pinyin	Meaning	Grammar Role
耶和華 / 耶和华	Yēhéhuá	The LORD	Proper noun
上帝	Shàngdì	God	Proper noun
問 / 问	wèn	To ask	Verb
女人	nǚ rén	Woman	Noun
你	nǐ	You	Pronoun
做了	zuò le	Did, have done	Verb
什麼 / 什么	shén me	What	Question word
回答	huí dá	To answer	Verb
那蛇	nà shé	That serpent	Noun phrase
誘騙 / 诱骗	yòu piàn	To deceive	Verb
我	wǒ	I, me	Pronoun
就	jiù	Then	Adverb
吃了	chī le	Ate	Verb

Sentence Structure:

耶和華上帝問女人：「你做了什麼？」 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì wèn nǚ rén: ‘Nǐ zuò le shén me?’): The subject “the LORD God” asks the woman about her actions.
女人回答說：「那蛇誘騙了我，我就吃了。」 (Nǚ rén huí dá shuō: ‘Nà shé yòu piàn le wǒ, wǒ jiù chī le.’): The woman explains her action, shifting blame to the serpent.

Key Grammar Points:

什麼 / 什么 (shén me): A question word meaning “what,” used to inquire about actions or objects.
誘騙 / 诱骗 (yòu piàn): A verb meaning “to deceive” or “to trick,” often implying malicious intent.
就 (jiù): An adverb indicating a logical sequence or immediacy, often translated as “then.”

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)
問 / 问 (wèn): 4th tone (falling)
女人 (nǚ rén): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
你 (nǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
做了 (zuò le): 4th tone (falling) + neutral tone
什麼 / 什么 (shén me): 2nd tone (rising) + neutral tone
回答 (huí dá): 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
那蛇 (nà shé): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)
誘騙 / 诱骗 (yòu piàn): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
我 (wǒ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
就 (jiù): 4th tone (falling)
吃了 (chī le): 1st tone (flat) + neutral tone

Key Characters:

誘騙 / 诱骗 (yòu piàn): Means “to deceive” or “to trick,” often used in moral or ethical contexts.
回答 (huí dá): Means “to answer,” emphasizing a response to a question or call.
那蛇 (nà shé): Refers to “that serpent,” specifying the culprit in the narrative.

Shifting Blame: The woman’s response reflects a universal theme of attributing wrongdoing to external influences, resonating with Chinese and other cultural narratives about responsibility.
Serpents in Symbolism: In both Hebrew and Chinese traditions, serpents often symbolize cunning or deceit, making them natural antagonists in moral stories.
Questioning as Accountability: The LORD God’s question reflects the Confucian idea of moral accountability and self-reflection as essential to personal and societal harmony.

誘騙 / 诱骗 (yòu piàn): Picture a sly serpent whispering deceitful words to someone.
回答 (huí dá): Imagine raising your hand and answering a teacher’s question in a classroom.
那蛇 (nà shé): Visualize a specific serpent coiled on a branch, emphasizing its role in the narrative.

Comparison with Hebrew:
- מַה־זֹּ֣את עָשִׂ֑ית (Mah Zot Asit): → 你做了什麼 (Nǐ zuò le shén me): Both ask the woman to explain her actions.
- הַנָּחָ֥שׁ הִשִּׁיאַ֖נִי (HaNachash Hishiani): → 那蛇誘騙了我 (Nà shé yòu piàn le wǒ): Both describe the serpent as the deceiver.
- וָאֹכֵֽל (VaOchel): → 我就吃了 (Wǒ jiù chī le): Both indicate that the woman ate the forbidden fruit as a result of the deception.
Comparison with English:
- “What is this you have done?” matches 你做了什麼 (Nǐ zuò le shén me): Both express astonishment and demand an explanation.
- “The serpent deceived me” aligns with 那蛇誘騙了我 (Nà shé yòu piàn le wǒ): Both emphasize the serpent’s role in the woman’s decision.
- “And I ate” corresponds to 我就吃了 (Wǒ jiù chī le): Both describe the woman’s ultimate action.
Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Accountability and Blame: The interaction highlights the tension between personal responsibility and external influence, a theme common in Chinese moral philosophy.
- Symbolism of the Serpent: As in Hebrew culture, serpents in Chinese tradition are often associated with cunning, making them effective symbols of deception.