וַיִּקְרָ֛א יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לֹ֖ו אַיֶּֽכָּה׃
耶和華上帝呼喚那人，對他說：「你在哪裡？」
耶和华上帝呼唤那人，对他说：「你在哪里？」
Yēhéhuá Shàngdì hū huàn nà rén, duì tā shuō: “Nǐ zài nǎ lǐ?”
The LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耶和華 / 耶和华 | Yēhéhuá | The LORD | Proper noun |
| 上帝 | Shàngdì | God | Proper noun |
| 呼喚 / 呼唤 | hū huàn | To call | Verb |
| 那人 | nà rén | That man | Noun phrase |
| 對 / 对 | duì | To, toward | Preposition |
| 他 | tā | He, him | Pronoun |
| 說 / 说 | shuō | To say | Verb |
| 你 | nǐ | You | Pronoun |
| 在 | zài | To be at, to be in | Verb |
| 哪裡 / 哪里 | nǎ lǐ | Where | Question word |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 耶和華上帝呼喚那人 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì hū huàn nà rén): The subject “the LORD God” calls to “that man.”
- 對他說 (Duì tā shuō): Introduces the direct address to the man, “said to him.”
- 你在哪裡 (Nǐ zài nǎ lǐ): A question asking for the man’s location, “Where are you?”
Key Grammar Points:
- 呼喚 / 呼唤 (hū huàn): A verb meaning “to call” or “to summon,” often used in formal contexts.
- 對 / 对 (duì): A preposition meaning “to” or “toward,” indicating the recipient of the action.
- 哪裡 / 哪里 (nǎ lǐ): A question word meaning “where,” used to inquire about a location.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Yēhéhuá Shàngdì hū huàn nà rén, duì tā shuō: “Nǐ zài nǎ lǐ?”
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)
- 呼喚 / 呼唤 (hū huàn): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 那人 (nà rén): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 對 / 对 (duì): 4th tone (falling)
- 他 (tā): 1st tone (flat)
- 說 / 说 (shuō): 1st tone (flat)
- 你 (nǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 在 (zài): 4th tone (falling)
- 哪裡 / 哪里 (nǎ lǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 呼喚 / 呼唤 (hū huàn): Means “to call” or “to summon,” emphasizing an authoritative or urgent action.
- 哪裡 / 哪里 (nǎ lǐ): A question word used to inquire about location, combining “哪” (which) and “里” (inside, place).
- 對 / 对 (duì): A preposition meaning “to” or “toward,” frequently used in speech-related contexts.
5. Cultural Insights
- Calling by Name: In Hebrew culture, calling by name reflects relational intent. In Chinese tradition, this parallels respect and responsibility in addressing individuals directly.
- Asking “Where are you?”: This question emphasizes accountability, a theme common in Confucian and Hebrew ethical traditions where individuals are responsible for their actions and place in society.
- Divine Authority: The LORD God initiating the call mirrors Chinese concepts of heaven’s moral authority overseeing humanity’s actions.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 呼喚 / 呼唤 (hū huàn): Imagine someone shouting loudly across a garden to get someone’s attention.
- 哪裡 / 哪里 (nǎ lǐ): Visualize looking around a vast space, searching for a hidden person.
- 對 / 对 (duì): Picture pointing directly at someone while addressing them.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיִּקְרָ֛א יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים (VaYiqra Adonai Elohim): → 耶和華上帝呼喚 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì hū huàn): Both describe the LORD God calling out to the man.
- אֶל־הָֽאָדָ֑ם (El HaAdam): → 那人 (Nà rén): Both specify that the call is directed toward “the man.”
- אַיֶּֽכָּה (Ayyekah): → 你在哪裡 (Nǐ zài nǎ lǐ): Both express the question “Where are you?”
- Comparison with English:
- “The LORD God called to the man” corresponds to 耶和華上帝呼喚那人 (Yēhéhuá Shàngdì hū huàn nà rén): Both emphasize the act of calling.
- “Where are you?” matches 你在哪裡 (Nǐ zài nǎ lǐ): Both directly inquire about the man’s location.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Accountability: The divine question reflects Confucian values of responsibility and answering for one’s actions.
- Relational Call: Addressing someone directly, as shown here, aligns with Chinese respect for relational and hierarchical order.
