וַתִּפָּקַ֨חְנָה֙ עֵינֵ֣י שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּ כִּ֥י עֵֽירֻמִּ֖ם הֵ֑ם וַֽיִּתְפְּרוּ֙ עֲלֵ֣ה תְאֵנָ֔ה וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם חֲגֹרֹֽת׃
他們兩人的眼睛明亮了，才知道自己是赤身露體的；他們就拿無花果樹的葉子，為自己編作裙子。
他们两人的眼睛明亮了，才知道自己是赤身裸体的；他们就拿无花果树的叶子，为自己编作裙子。
Tā men liǎng rén de yǎn jīng míng liàng le, cái zhī dào zì jǐ shì chì shēn lù tǐ de; tā men jiù ná wú huā guǒ shù de yè zi, wèi zì jǐ biān zuò qún zi.
The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他們 / 他们 | tā men | They, them | Pronoun |
| 兩人 / 两人 | liǎng rén | Two people | Noun phrase |
| 眼睛 | yǎn jīng | Eyes | Noun |
| 明亮 | míng liàng | Bright, opened | Adjective |
| 才 | cái | Only then | Adverb |
| 知道 | zhī dào | To know | Verb |
| 自己 | zì jǐ | Self | Pronoun |
| 赤身露體 / 赤身裸体 | chì shēn lù tǐ | Naked | Adjective |
| 拿 | ná | To take | Verb |
| 無花果 / 无花果 | wú huā guǒ | Fig | Noun |
| 樹 / 树 | shù | Tree | Noun |
| 葉子 / 叶子 | yè zi | Leaf | Noun |
| 為 / 为 | wèi | For | Preposition |
| 編作 / 编作 | biān zuò | To sew, to weave | Verb |
| 裙子 | qún zi | Covering, skirt | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 他們兩人的眼睛明亮了 (Tā men liǎng rén de yǎn jīng míng liàng le): Describes their eyes being opened or enlightened.
- 才知道自己是赤身露體的 (Cái zhī dào zì jǐ shì chì shēn lù tǐ de): Indicates the realization of their nakedness.
- 他們就拿無花果樹的葉子 (Tā men jiù ná wú huā guǒ shù de yè zi): Describes the action of taking fig leaves.
- 為自己編作裙子 (Wèi zì jǐ biān zuò qún zi): Indicates the creation of coverings for themselves.
Key Grammar Points:
- 才 (cái): An adverb indicating a condition or realization occurring after an event.
- 為 / 为 (wèi): A preposition meaning “for,” often indicating purpose.
- 編作 / 编作 (biān zuò): A compound verb meaning “to sew” or “to weave together.”
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Tā men liǎng rén de yǎn jīng míng liàng le, cái zhī dào zì jǐ shì chì shēn lù tǐ de; tā men jiù ná wú huā guǒ shù de yè zi, wèi zì jǐ biān zuò qún zi.
Tone Practice:
- 他們 / 他们 (tā men): 1st tone (flat) + neutral tone
- 兩人 / 两人 (liǎng rén): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 眼睛 (yǎn jīng): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 1st tone (flat)
- 明亮 (míng liàng): 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 才 (cái): 2nd tone (rising)
- 知道 (zhī dào): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 自己 (zì jǐ): 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 赤身露體 / 赤身裸体 (chì shēn lù tǐ): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 拿 (ná): 2nd tone (rising)
- 無花果 / 无花果 (wú huā guǒ): 2nd tone (rising) + 1st tone (flat) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 樹 / 树 (shù): 4th tone (falling)
- 葉子 / 叶子 (yè zi): 4th tone (falling) + neutral tone
- 為 / 为 (wèi): 4th tone (falling)
- 編作 / 编作 (biān zuò): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 裙子 (qún zi): 2nd tone (rising) + neutral tone
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 明亮 (míng liàng): Means “bright” or “opened,” symbolizing enlightenment or realization.
- 赤身露體 / 赤身裸体 (chì shēn lù tǐ): Describes nakedness, emphasizing vulnerability or exposure.
- 無花果 / 无花果 (wú huā guǒ): Refers to fig trees, often used symbolically in many cultures.
- 編作 / 编作 (biān zuò): Means “to weave” or “to sew,” highlighting a practical action.
5. Cultural Insights
- Realization of Nakedness: This theme reflects universal ideas about self-awareness and vulnerability, paralleling Chinese concepts of humility and introspection.
- Fig Leaves as Coverings: The use of fig leaves resonates with ancient agricultural symbolism in both Hebrew and Chinese traditions, where plants often serve practical and spiritual purposes.
- Clothing as a Cultural Marker: In Chinese tradition, clothing represents civility and propriety, paralleling the narrative’s shift from innocence to awareness.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 明亮 (míng liàng): Imagine a light bulb turning on, symbolizing realization or understanding.
- 赤身露體 / 赤身裸体 (chì shēn lù tǐ): Picture someone realizing they are uncovered, evoking a sense of vulnerability.
- 無花果 / 无花果 (wú huā guǒ): Visualize large fig leaves being woven together as makeshift clothing.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַתִּפָּקַ֨חְנָה֙ עֵינֵ֣י שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם (VaTipakhna Einei Sheneihem): → 他們兩人的眼睛明亮了 (Tā men liǎng rén de yǎn jīng míng liàng le): Both describe their eyes being opened and gaining awareness.
- וַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּ כִּ֥י עֵֽירֻמִּ֖ם הֵ֑ם (VaYeidu Ki Eirummim Hem): → 才知道自己是赤身露體的 (Cái zhī dào zì jǐ shì chì shēn lù tǐ de): Both express the realization of their nakedness.
- וַיִּתְפְּרוּ֙ עֲלֵ֣ה תְאֵנָ֔ה (VaYitperu Aleh Te’enah): → 就拿無花果樹的葉子 (Jiù ná wú huā guǒ shù de yè zi): Both describe using fig leaves for coverings.
- Comparison with English:
- “The eyes of both of them were opened” matches 他們兩人的眼睛明亮了 (Tā men liǎng rén de yǎn jīng míng liàng le): Both signify gaining awareness.
- “They knew that they were naked” corresponds to 才知道自己是赤身露體的 (Cái zhī dào zì jǐ shì chì shēn lù tǐ de): Both express the realization of their state.
- “They sewed fig leaves together” aligns with 就拿無花果樹的葉子 (Jiù ná wú huā guǒ shù de yè zi): Both describe creating coverings from fig leaves.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Awareness and Change: The opening of the eyes parallels Chinese ideas of enlightenment or transition from naivety to understanding.
- Practicality and Adaptation: Using fig leaves mirrors traditional Chinese resourcefulness in adapting to circumstances.
