Genesis 4:13

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר קַ֖יִן אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה גָּדֹ֥ול עֲוֹנִ֖י מִנְּשֹֽׂא׃

該隱對耶和華說，我的罪過太大，無法承擔。

该隐对耶和华说，我的罪过太大，无法承担。

Gāi yǐn duì Yēhéhuá shuō, wǒ de zuìguò tài dà, wúfǎ chéngdān.

Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.”

1. Vocabulary Breakdown

Chinese Character	Pinyin	Meaning	Grammar Role
該隱 / 该隐	Gāi yǐn	Cain	Proper noun
對 / 对	duì	To, towards	Preposition
耶和華 / 耶和华	Yēhéhuá	LORD (referring to God)	Proper noun
說 / 说	shuō	To say	Verb
我的 / 我的	wǒ de	My	Pronoun possessive
罪過 / 罪过	zuìguò	Sin, transgression	Noun
太大 / 太大	tài dà	Too great	Adjective phrase
無法 / 无法	wúfǎ	Unable to	Adverbial phrase
承擔 / 承担	chéngdān	To bear, to carry	Verb

2. Grammar Explanation

Sentence Structure:

• 該隱 / 该隐 (Gāi yǐn): The name of Cain in Chinese, using characters that phonetically approximate the Hebrew name.
• 對 / 对 (duì): Preposition meaning “to” or “towards,” indicating the direction of Cain’s statement, which is directed towards God.
• 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): The Chinese rendering of “LORD” (referring to God), using characters that represent the divine name.
• 說 / 说 (shuō): Verb meaning “to say,” used to introduce Cain’s speech to God.
• 我的 / 我的 (wǒ de): Possessive pronoun meaning “my,” showing that the sin Cain refers to belongs to him personally.
• 罪過 / 罪过 (zuìguò): Noun meaning “sin” or “transgression,” indicating Cain’s guilt for his actions.
• 太大 / 太大 (tài dà): Adjective phrase meaning “too great,” describing the severity of Cain’s sin, which he feels is beyond his ability to bear.
• 無法 / 无法 (wúfǎ): Adverbial phrase meaning “unable to,” expressing Cain’s sense of helplessness in the face of his punishment.
• 承擔 / 承担 (chéngdān): Verb meaning “to bear” or “to carry,” indicating Cain’s inability to carry the weight of his sin and punishment.

3. Pronunciation Practice

Pinyin: Gāi yǐn duì Yēhéhuá shuō, wǒ de zuìguò tài dà, wúfǎ chéngdān.

Tone Practice:

• 該隱 / 该隐 (Gāi yǐn): 1st tone (flat) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
• 對 / 对 (duì): 4th tone (falling)
• 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising) + 1st tone (flat)
• 說 / 说 (shuō): 1st tone (flat)
• 我的 / 我的 (wǒ de): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + neutral tone
• 罪過 / 罪过 (zuìguò): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
• 太大 / 太大 (tài dà): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
• 無法 / 无法 (wúfǎ): 2nd tone (rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
• 承擔 / 承担 (chéngdān): 2nd tone (rising) + 1st tone (flat)

4. Character Learning

Key Characters:

• 該隱 / 该隐 (Gāi yǐn): The name of Cain. This is a proper noun in Chinese, representing the person who committed the first murder in the Bible.
• 對 / 对 (duì): Preposition meaning “to” or “towards,” indicating the direction of the action, in this case, Cain’s response to God.
• 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): The name for God in Chinese, used throughout the Old Testament to refer to the deity who speaks to and judges Cain.
• 說 / 说 (shuō): Verb meaning “to say,” indicating that the following words are Cain’s response to God.
• 我的 / 我的 (wǒ de): Possessive pronoun meaning “my,” showing that the sin Cain is talking about is his own.
• 罪過 / 罪过 (zuìguò): Noun meaning “sin,” indicating that Cain acknowledges his wrongdoings.
• 太大 / 太大 (tài dà): Adjective phrase meaning “too great,” showing Cain’s despair over the enormity of his sin.
• 無法 / 无法 (wúfǎ): “Unable to,” showing Cain’s admission that he cannot bear the consequences of his sin.
• 承擔 / 承担 (chéngdān): Verb meaning “to bear,” representing Cain’s inability to carry the weight of his punishment.

5. Cultural Insights

• The Theme of Accountability: Cain’s admission that his sin is too great to bear is a powerful reflection of the theme of personal responsibility. In many cultures, the idea that one must face the consequences of their actions is deeply rooted. In Chinese culture, this resonates with the concept of 因果報應 (yīn guǒ bào yìng), meaning “cause and effect,” where one’s actions inevitably lead to consequences. Cain’s recognition of the weight of his sin parallels this idea of inevitable retribution.
• Divine Mercy and Justice: Cain’s plea that his sin is too great to bear also touches upon the balance between divine mercy and justice. In Chinese culture, justice and mercy are often seen as two sides of the same coin. The punishment Cain receives is harsh, but it also serves as an opportunity for reflection and growth. This balance between justice and mercy is a central theme in many cultural and religious teachings.
• The Burden of Guilt: Cain’s sense of guilt is portrayed through his plea to God. This internal struggle with guilt is a universal experience, reflected in Chinese thought as well. In traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy, guilt and shame are often seen as blockages to personal health and spiritual well-being. Cain’s admission of his sin, and his resulting punishment, can be seen as part of a spiritual cleansing process in many cultural contexts.

6. Mnemonics for Retention

• 罪過 / 罪过 (zuìguò): Think of this as “too much sin” — “罪” (zuì) means sin, and “過” (guò) implies excess. Cain’s overwhelming sin is too much for him to bear.
• 太大 / 太大 (tài dà): “Too great” — remember that Cain is saying his sin is too big to handle. “太” (tài) means “too much,” and “大” (dà) means “big,” highlighting the enormity of his guilt.
• 無法 / 无法 (wúfǎ): “Unable to” — this is a helpful phrase to remember for expressing limitations. Cain is acknowledging that he cannot bear the punishment, just as we sometimes feel incapable of bearing our burdens.
• 承擔 / 承担 (chéngdān): “To bear” — this verb emphasizes the weight of responsibility and the emotional and spiritual load Cain must carry. It’s a reminder of how actions come with consequences that we must bear.

7. Comparative Studies

• Comparison with Hebrew:
  • גָּדֹ֥ול עֲוֹנִ֖י (gādōl ʿāwōnî): → 我的罪過太大 (wǒ de zuìguò tài dà): In both versions, Cain acknowledges that his sin is too great to bear. The Hebrew uses “great is my sin,” while the Chinese uses “my sin is too great.”
  • מִנְּשֹֽׂא (min-nəsô): → 無法承擔 (wúfǎ chéngdān): In both texts, Cain expresses his inability to handle the weight of his sin. The Hebrew “too great to bear” corresponds closely with the Chinese “unable to bear.”
• Comparison with English:
  • “My punishment is greater than I can bear” (English) vs. “我的罪過太大，無法承擔 (Chinese)”:
    The English translation emphasizes Cain’s punishment, while the Chinese focuses on the sin itself being too much to bear. Both versions communicate the same core idea of Cain feeling overwhelmed by the consequences of his actions.
• Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
  • The Concept of Excessive Guilt: In Chinese culture, the idea of guilt as an overwhelming emotion is common. This connects with Cain’s experience of guilt being “too great to bear.” In both cultures, the experience of guilt can lead to a sense of despair and the need for redemption or atonement.
  • Divine Retribution and Mercy: The idea of divine retribution is balanced by mercy in both the Biblical and Chinese traditions. The theme of receiving punishment for wrongdoing, followed by a chance for redemption, is prevalent in both traditions. The Chinese concept of 因果報應 (yīn guǒ bào yìng) emphasizes that actions have consequences, and Cain’s admission of guilt reflects the inevitability of facing consequences for his wrongdoings.