וְהָ֣אָדָ֔ם יָדַ֖ע אֶת־חַוָּ֣ה אִשְׁתֹּ֑ו וַתַּ֨הַר֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד אֶת־קַ֔יִן וַתֹּ֕אמֶר קָנִ֥יתִי אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃
人亞當知道了他的妻子夏娃，她懷孕生下該隱，並說：我已經從耶和華那裡得了一個人。
人亚当知道了他的妻子夏娃，她怀孕生下该隐，并说：我已经从耶和华那里得了一个人。
Rén Yàdāng zhīdàole tā de qīzi Xiàwā, tā huáiyùn shēngxià Gāi Yǐn, bìng shuō: Wǒ yǐjīng cóng Yēhéhuá nàlǐ déle yīgè rén.
The man Adam knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.”
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 人 | rén | Man / Person | Noun |
| 亞當 / 亚当 | Yàdāng | Adam | Proper noun |
| 知道 | zhīdào | To know / To be aware | Verb |
| 他的 | tā de | His | Pronoun |
| 妻子 | qīzi | Wife | Noun |
| 夏娃 | Xiàwā | Eve | Proper noun |
| 懷孕 / 怀孕 | huáiyùn | Pregnant | Verb |
| 生下 | shēngxià | To give birth | Verb |
| 該隱 / 该隐 | Gāi Yǐn | Cain | Proper noun |
| 並 | bìng | And | Conjunction |
| 說 / 说 | shuō | To say | Verb |
| 我 | wǒ | I / Me | Pronoun |
| 已經 / 已经 | yǐjīng | Already | Adverb |
| 從 | cóng | From | Preposition |
| 耶和華 | Yēhéhuá | The LORD (YHWH) | Proper noun |
| 那裡 / 那里 | nàlǐ | There | Pronoun |
| 得了 | déle | To get / To obtain | Verb |
| 一個 / 一个 | yīgè | A / One | Numeral |
| 人 | rén | Man | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 人亞當知道了他的妻子夏娃 (Rén Yàdāng zhīdàole tā de qīzi Xiàwā): This phrase introduces Adam and his awareness of Eve, using the verb “知道” (zhīdào) to indicate knowledge of his relationship with her.
- 她懷孕生下該隱 (Tā huáiyùn shēngxià Gāi Yǐn): The phrase describes Eve’s pregnancy and the birth of Cain, with “懷孕” (huáiyùn) meaning “pregnant” and “生下” (shēngxià) meaning “gave birth.”
- 並說 (Bìng shuō): The conjunction “並” (bìng) is used to link the action of Eve speaking to the rest of the sentence, which describes her declaration.
- 我已經從耶和華那裡得了一個人 (Wǒ yǐjīng cóng Yēhéhuá nàlǐ déle yīgè rén): This clause shows Eve’s statement that she has received a child, “from the LORD.” “已經” (yǐjīng) expresses that this has already happened.
Key Grammar Points:
- 知道 (zhīdào): “To know” is a key verb in this sentence, showing awareness and understanding.
- 懷孕 / 怀孕 (huáiyùn): This verb directly refers to pregnancy, marking a crucial moment in the narrative.
- 得了 (déle): A verb meaning “to obtain,” showing that Eve has received Cain as a gift from the LORD.
- 並 (bìng): Used here to connect actions or phrases, similar to the word “and” in English.
- 從 (cóng): A preposition meaning “from,” marking the origin of something (in this case, the child being from the LORD).
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Rén Yàdāng zhīdàole tā de qīzi Xiàwā, tā huáiyùn shēngxià Gāi Yǐn, bìng shuō: Wǒ yǐjīng cóng Yēhéhuá nàlǐ déle yīgè rén.
Tone Practice:
- 人 (rén): 2nd tone (rising)
- 亞當 / 亚当 (Yàdāng): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat)
- 知道 (zhīdào): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 他的 (tā de): 1st tone (flat) + neutral tone
- 妻子 (qīzi): 1st tone (flat) + neutral tone
- 夏娃 (Xiàwā): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat)
- 懷孕 / 怀孕 (huáiyùn): 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 生下 (shēngxià): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 該隱 / 该隐 (Gāi Yǐn): 1st tone (flat) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 並 / 并 (bìng): 4th tone (falling)
- 說 / 说 (shuō): 1st tone (flat)
- 我 (wǒ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 已經 / 已经 (yǐjīng): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 1st tone (flat)
- 從 (cóng): 2nd tone (rising)
- 耶和華 (Yēhéhuá): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising) + 1st tone (flat)
- 那裡 / 那里 (nàlǐ): 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 得了 (déle): 2nd tone (rising) + neutral tone
- 一個 / 一个 (yīgè): 1st tone (flat) + neutral tone
- 人 (rén): 2nd tone (rising)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 人 (rén): Refers to a person or man. It’s one of the basic characters for human beings in Chinese.
- 亞當 / 亚当 (Yàdāng): Refers to Adam, the first man in the Bible, signifying the beginning of humanity.
- 知道 (zhīdào): The verb “to know,” often used to describe understanding or awareness in a literal or figurative sense.
- 妻子 (qīzi): Refers to “wife,” showing the relationship between Adam and Eve in this context.
- 懷孕 / 怀孕 (huáiyùn): “Pregnant,” signifying the beginning of Eve’s pregnancy with Cain.
- 生下 (shēngxià): The verb “to give birth,” which directly references Eve giving birth to Cain.
- 該隱 / 该隐 (Gāi Yǐn): “Cain,” the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, a key figure in the Genesis narrative.
- 並 / 并 (bìng): A conjunction used to link ideas or actions, similar to “and” in English.
- 說 / 说 (shuō): “To speak” or “to say,” indicating Eve’s verbal declaration after the birth of Cain.
- 已經 / 已经 (yǐjīng): “Already,” expressing the completion of an action or event.
- 從 (cóng): A preposition meaning “from,” indicating the origin of something, in this case, the source of the child (God).
- 耶和華 (Yēhéhuá): The personal name of God in the Bible, representing the covenant relationship with humanity.
- 那裡 / 那里 (nàlǐ): “There,” indicating location or origin.
- 得了 (déle): “To get” or “to obtain,” showing Eve’s action of receiving a son from God.
- 一個 / 一个 (yīgè): “A” or “one,” used here to indicate the singular form of “man” or “person.”
- 人 (rén): “Man,” a general term used to refer to human beings or a male person.
5. Cultural Insights
- Human Relationships in Chinese Culture: The relationship between Adam and Eve, as portrayed in the Bible, mirrors aspects of filial relationships and the significance of family in Chinese culture. The idea of procreation and continuing the family line is central to both cultures.
- Creation and the Role of God: In Chinese philosophy, there is often an emphasis on a higher power or force that initiates life and existence. The biblical story of Eve’s creation and Adam’s knowledge reflects a belief in divine origin, similar to the Chinese understanding of a Creator or Tao in some schools of thought.
- Procreation and Responsibility: The idea of Eve bearing Cain highlights the responsibility of both men and women to perpetuate life. In Chinese culture, the continuation of the family line is seen as a sacred duty, often emphasized in cultural narratives and family practices.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 亞當 / 亚当 (Yàdāng): Visualize Adam as the first man, the foundation of humanity, and the father of all generations.
- 知道 (zhīdào): Imagine the moment when Adam and Eve knew about the creation of Cain—emphasizing awareness and understanding in the relationship.
- 懷孕 / 怀孕 (huáiyùn): Picture Eve’s pregnancy, symbolizing the continuation of life and human lineage.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וְהָ֣אָדָ֔ם יָדַ֖ע אֶת־חַוָּ֣ה (V’HaAdam Yada Et Chavah): → 人亞當知道了他的妻子夏娃 (Rén Yàdāng zhīdàole tā de qīzi Xiàwā): Both describe Adam’s knowing Eve in a personal and intimate sense.
- וַתַּ֨הַר֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד אֶת־קַ֔יִן (Vataher Vateled Et Kayin): → 她懷孕生下該隱 (Tā huáiyùn shēngxià Gāi Yǐn): The phrase indicates Eve’s pregnancy and the birth of Cain, directly linking the concept of creation in both cultures.
- קָנִ֥יתִי אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־יְהוָֽה (Kaniti Ish Et YHWH): → 我已經從耶和華那裡得了一個人 (Wǒ yǐjīng cóng Yēhéhuá nàlǐ déle yīgè rén): This shows Eve’s statement of having received a son from the LORD, indicating the divine origin of life.
- Comparison with English:
- “And the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, ‘I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.'” corresponds to 人亞當知道了他的妻子夏娃，她懷孕生下該隱，並說：我已經從耶和華那裡得了一個人 (Rén Yàdāng zhīdàole tā de qīzi Xiàwā, tā huáiyùn shēngxià Gāi Yǐn, bìng shuō: Wǒ yǐjīng cóng Yēhéhuá nàlǐ déle yīgè rén): Both express the same event, where Adam knows Eve, and she bears Cain, crediting the LORD for the gift of a child.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Creation of Humanity: The Biblical concept of the creation of man through divine will aligns with traditional Chinese views of the Creator or the force behind human existence. In both cultures, humanity is seen as having a divine origin.
- Family and Legacy: The birth of Cain is seen as the beginning of humanity’s lineage, similar to the Chinese cultural emphasis on the importance of family and ancestry. The firstborn son often carries the family name and continues the family legacy, much like Cain did in the Genesis narrative.
