הֵן֩ גֵּרַ֨שְׁתָּ אֹתִ֜י הַיֹּ֗ום מֵעַל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה וּמִפָּנֶ֖יךָ אֶסָּתֵ֑ר וְהָיִ֜יתִי נָ֤ע וָנָד֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וְהָיָ֥ה כָל־מֹצְאִ֖י יַֽהַרְגֵւנִי׃
你今天將我從這地趕出，我必藏匿於你面前，我將在地上流浪漂泊，凡遇見我的人都會殺了我。
你今天将我从这地赶出，我必藏匿于你面前，我将地上流浪漂泊，凡遇见我的人都会杀了我。
Nǐ jīntiān jiāng wǒ cóng zhè dì gǎn chū, wǒ bì cáng nì yú nǐ miànqián, wǒ jiāng dìshàng liúlàng piāobó, fán yùjiàn wǒ de rén dōu huì shāle wǒ.
“Today you have driven me from the face of the earth, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你 / 你 | Nǐ | You | Pronoun |
| 今天 / 今天 | jīntiān | Today | Time noun |
| 將 / 将 | jiāng | Will | Modal verb |
| 我 / 我 | wǒ | I, me | Pronoun |
| 從 / 从 | cóng | From | Preposition |
| 這 / 这 | zhè | This | Pronoun |
| 地 / 地 | dì | Earth, ground | Noun |
| 趕出 / 赶出 | gǎn chū | Drive out | Verb phrase |
| 藏匿 / 藏匿 | cáng nì | Hide | Verb |
| 於 / 于 | yú | In, at | Preposition |
| 面前 / 面前 | miànqián | Presence, before | Noun |
| 流浪 / 流浪 | liúlàng | Wander | Verb |
| 漂泊 / 漂泊 | piāobó | Drift, roam | Verb |
| 凡 / 凡 | fán | Whoever | Pronoun |
| 遇見 / 遇见 | yùjiàn | To meet, encounter | Verb |
| 殺 / 杀 | shā | Kill | Verb |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 今天 / 今天 (jīntiān): “Today,” indicating when the action happens.
- 將 / 将 (jiāng): A modal verb indicating future action or consequence.
- 我 / 我 (wǒ): The subject pronoun, “I.”
- 從 / 从 (cóng): Preposition meaning “from,” indicating the source or starting point.
- 趕出 / 赶出 (gǎn chū): “Drive out,” showing Cain’s punishment of being cast out from the land.
- 藏匿 / 藏匿 (cáng nì): “To hide,” indicating Cain’s separation from God’s presence.
- 面前 / 面前 (miànqián): “Presence,” referring to the face of God or God’s presence before Cain.
- 流浪 / 流浪 (liúlàng): “Wander,” indicating Cain’s future state as a wanderer.
- 漂泊 / 漂泊 (piāobó): “Drift,” continuing the idea of aimless wandering.
- 凡 / 凡 (fán): “Whoever,” indicating that any person who encounters Cain will kill him.
- 遇見 / 遇见 (yùjiàn): “To meet,” used to describe encountering someone, particularly in the context of Cain’s fear of being killed.
- 殺 / 杀 (shā): “Kill,” emphasizing Cain’s belief that he will be murdered by others.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Nǐ jīntiān jiāng wǒ cóng zhè dì gǎn chū, wǒ bì cáng nì yú nǐ miànqián, wǒ jiāng dìshàng liúlàng piāobó, fán yùjiàn wǒ de rén dōu huì shāle wǒ.
Tone Practice:
- 今天 / 今天 (jīntiān): 1st tone (flat) + 1st tone (flat)
- 不再 / 不再 (bù zài): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 給 / 给 (gěi): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 產生 / 产生 (chǎnshēng): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 1st tone (flat)
- 力量 / 力量 (lìliàng): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 流浪 / 流浪 (liúlàng): 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 漂泊 / 漂泊 (piāobó): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 遇見 / 遇见 (yùjiàn): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 殺 / 杀 (shā): 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.
- “My punishment is greater than I can bear” (English) vs. “我的罪過太大，無法承擔 (Chinese)”:
- 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.
