וַתֵּ֣רֶא הָֽאִשָּׁ֡ה כִּ֣י טֹוב֩ הָעֵ֨ץ לְמַאֲכָ֜ל וְכִ֧י תַֽאֲוָה־ה֣וּא לָעֵינַ֗יִם וְנֶחְמָ֤ד הָעֵץ֙ לְהַשְׂכִּ֔יל וַתִּקַּ֥ח מִפִּרְיֹ֖ו וַתֹּאכַ֑ל וַתִּתֵּ֧ן גַּם־לְאִישָׁ֛הּ עִמָּ֖הּ וַיֹּאכַֽל׃
女人看見那棵樹的果子好作食物，也讓人喜愛，令人羡慕，就摘下果子來吃，又給她的丈夫吃，他也吃了。
女人看见那棵树的果子好作食物，也让人喜爱，令人羡慕，就摘下果子来吃，又给她的丈夫吃，他也吃了。
Nǚ rén kàn jiàn nà kē shù de guǒ zi hǎo zuò shí wù, yě ràng rén xǐ ài, lìng rén xiàn mù, jiù zhāi xià guǒ zi lái chī, yòu gěi tā de zhàng fū chī, tā yě chī le.
The woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 女人 | nǚ rén | Woman | Noun |
| 看見 / 看见 | kàn jiàn | To see | Verb |
| 那棵樹 / 那棵树 | nà kē shù | That tree | Noun phrase |
| 果子 | guǒ zi | Fruit | Noun |
| 好作食物 | hǎo zuò shí wù | Good for food | Adjective phrase |
| 喜愛 / 喜爱 | xǐ ài | Pleasing, lovable | Verb |
| 羡慕 | xiàn mù | Desirable, enviable | Adjective |
| 摘下 | zhāi xià | To pick | Verb |
| 吃 | chī | To eat | Verb |
| 又 | yòu | Also | Adverb |
| 給 / 给 | gěi | To give | Verb |
| 丈夫 | zhàng fū | Husband | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 女人看見那棵樹的果子 (Nǚ rén kàn jiàn nà kē shù de guǒ zi): Describes the woman observing the tree’s fruit.
- 好作食物，也讓人喜愛，令人羡慕 (Hǎo zuò shí wù, yě ràng rén xǐ ài, lìng rén xiàn mù): Explains why the tree’s fruit is appealing.
- 就摘下果子來吃，又給她的丈夫吃 (Jiù zhāi xià guǒ zi lái chī, yòu gěi tā de zhàng fū chī): Describes the actions of taking, eating, and sharing the fruit.
Key Grammar Points:
- 好作食物 (hǎo zuò shí wù): Literally “good to make food,” meaning “suitable for eating.”
- 又 (yòu): An adverb meaning “also” or “again,” emphasizing additional action.
- 給 / 给 (gěi): A verb meaning “to give” or “to share.”
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Nǚ rén kàn jiàn nà kē shù de guǒ zi hǎo zuò shí wù, yě ràng rén xǐ ài, lìng rén xiàn mù, jiù zhāi xià guǒ zi lái chī, yòu gěi tā de zhàng fū chī, tā yě chī le.
Tone Practice:
- 女人 (nǚ rén): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 看見 / 看见 (kàn jiàn): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 那棵樹 / 那棵树 (nà kē shù): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 果子 (guǒ zi): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + neutral tone
- 好作食物 (hǎo zuò shí wù): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 喜愛 / 喜爱 (xǐ ài): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 羡慕 (xiàn mù): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 摘下 (zhāi xià): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 吃 (chī): 1st tone (flat)
- 又 (yòu): 4th tone (falling)
- 給 / 给 (gěi): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 丈夫 (zhàng fū): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 看見 / 看见 (kàn jiàn): A verb meaning “to see” or “to observe,” often used in narrative contexts.
- 摘下 (zhāi xià): Means “to pick” or “to pluck,” typically referring to fruits or items.
- 羡慕 (xiàn mù): An adjective meaning “desirable” or “enviable,” reflecting longing or admiration.
5. Cultural Insights
- Desire and Temptation: The description of the fruit as desirable mirrors the universal theme of temptation, resonating in both Hebrew and Chinese narratives.
- Food Symbolism: In Chinese culture, food often symbolizes abundance and prosperity. Here, the fruit also represents a test of choice and consequence.
- Shared Actions: The woman sharing the fruit with her husband emphasizes the cultural values of community and shared experience, prevalent in Chinese and biblical traditions.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 看見 / 看见 (kàn jiàn): Imagine someone looking intently at a tree full of fruit.
- 摘下 (zhāi xià): Picture a hand reaching up and plucking a ripe fruit from a branch.
- 羡慕 (xiàn mù): Visualize someone gazing longingly at something they desire but don’t yet have.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַתֵּ֣רֶא הָֽאִשָּׁ֡ה (VaTeRe HaIshah): → 女人看見 (Nǚ rén kàn jiàn): Both depict the woman observing the fruit.
- כִּ֣י טֹוב֩ הָעֵ֨ץ לְמַאֲכָ֜ל (Ki Tov HaEtz LeMa’achal): → 果子好作食物 (Guǒ zi hǎo zuò shí wù): Both describe the fruit as good for food.
- וַתִּקַּ֥ח מִפִּרְיֹ֖ו וַתֹּאכַ֑ל (VaTikach MiPiryo VaTo’chal): → 就摘下果子來吃 (Jiù zhāi xià guǒ zi lái chī): Both recount the woman taking and eating the fruit.
- וַתִּתֵּ֧ן גַּם־לְאִישָׁ֛הּ (VaTiTen Gam LeIshah): → 又給她的丈夫 (Yòu gěi tā de zhàng fū): Both describe sharing the fruit with her husband.
- Comparison with English:
- “The woman saw that the tree was good for food” matches 女人看見那棵樹的果子好作食物 (Nǚ rén kàn jiàn nà kē shù de guǒ zi hǎo zuò shí wù): Both highlight the observation and appeal of the fruit.
- “She also gave some to her husband” corresponds to 又給她的丈夫 (Yòu gěi tā de zhàng fū): Both emphasize the act of sharing.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Food and Desire: The narrative of desirable food aligns with Chinese symbolism of abundance and temptation.
- Community and Sharing: Sharing the fruit reflects Chinese cultural values of togetherness and mutual experience.
