וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־קַ֔יִן אֵ֖י הֶ֣בֶל אָחִ֑יךָ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי הֲשֹׁמֵ֥ר אָחִ֖י אָנֹֽכִי׃
耶和華對該隱說，你的兄弟亞伯在哪裡？該隱說，我不知道，我是看守我兄弟的嗎？
耶和华对该隐说，你的兄弟亚伯在哪里？该隐说，我不知道，我是看守我兄弟的吗？
Yēhéhuá duì Gāi Yǐn shuō, nǐ de xiōngdì Yàbó zài nǎlǐ? Gāi Yǐn shuō, wǒ bù zhīdào, wǒ shì kànshǒu wǒ xiōngdì de ma?
And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” And he said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耶和華 / 耶和华 | Yēhéhuá | LORD (God’s name) | Proper noun |
| 對 / 对 | duì | To, towards | Preposition |
| 該隱 / 该隐 | Gāi Yǐn | Cain (name) | Proper noun |
| 說 / 说 | shuō | To say | Verb |
| 兄弟 | xiōngdì | Brother | Noun |
| 在哪裡 / 在哪里 | zài nǎlǐ | Where (location) | Phrase |
| 不知道 | wǒ bù zhīdào | I don’t know | Verb phrase |
| 看守 | kànshǒu | To guard, to keep | Verb |
| 嗎 / 吗 | ma | Question particle (yes/no question) | Particle |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 耶和華對該隱說 (Yēhéhuá duì Gāi Yǐn shuō): The phrase “對…說” (duì… shuō) means “said to.” “對” (duì) means “to,” and “說” (shuō) means “to say.” God is speaking to Cain in this instance.
- 你的兄弟亞伯在哪裡 (nǐ de xiōngdì Yàbó zài nǎlǐ): “你的兄弟” (nǐ de xiōngdì) means “your brother,” and “在哪裡” (zài nǎlǐ) means “where is [he].” This phrase expresses the direct question God asks Cain about Abel’s whereabouts.
- 我不知道 (wǒ bù zhīdào): “I don’t know.” “我” (wǒ) means “I,” and “不知道” (bù zhīdào) means “don’t know.” This is Cain’s response to God’s question.
- 看守 (kànshǒu): A verb meaning “to guard” or “to keep.” Cain is essentially denying responsibility, saying he is not his brother’s keeper.
- 嗎 / 吗 (ma): This particle turns the statement into a question. It’s commonly used at the end of a sentence to indicate that the speaker is asking a question.
Key Grammar Points:
- 對 / 对 (duì): A preposition that means “to,” indicating the direction of Cain’s conversation with God.
- 說 / 说 (shuō): The verb “to say,” showing that Cain responds to God’s question.
- 在哪裡 / 在哪里 (zài nǎlǐ): The phrase “where” or “where is” that asks about the location of Abel.
- 不知道 / 不知道 (bù zhīdào): The verb phrase meaning “I don’t know,” indicating Cain’s response of ignorance.
- 看守 (kànshǒu): The verb meaning “to guard” or “to keep,” where Cain is essentially denying responsibility for Abel.
- 嗎 / 吗 (ma): The question particle used to turn the statement into a question, showing Cain’s evasion.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Yēhéhuá duì Gāi Yǐn shuō, nǐ de xiōngdì Yàbó zài nǎlǐ? Gāi Yǐn shuō, wǒ bù zhīdào, wǒ shì kànshǒu wǒ xiōngdì de ma?
Tone Practice:
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising) + 1st tone (flat)
- 對 / 对 (duì): 4th tone (falling)
- 該隱 / 该隐 (Gāi Yǐn): 1st tone (flat) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 說 / 说 (shuō): 1st tone (flat)
- 你的 / 你的 (nǐ de): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + neutral tone (unstressed)
- 兄弟 / 兄弟 (xiōngdì): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 在哪裡 / 在哪里 (zài nǎlǐ): 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 不知道 / 不知道 (bù zhīdào): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 看守 / 看守 (kànshǒu): 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 嗎 / 吗 (ma): neutral tone (unstressed)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): Proper noun, “LORD” or “God,” representing God’s name in the Bible.
- 對 / 对 (duì): Preposition meaning “to,” indicating the direction of speech or action.
- 該隱 / 该隐 (Gāi Yǐn): Proper noun, “Cain,” the first son of Adam and Eve.
- 說 / 说 (shuō): Verb meaning “to say,” used when expressing speech or words.
- 兄弟 / 兄弟 (xiōngdì): Noun meaning “brother,” referring to Abel, Cain’s sibling.
- 在哪裡 / 在哪里 (zài nǎlǐ): A phrase meaning “where,” asking about location.
- 不知道 / 不知道 (bù zhīdào): Verb phrase meaning “I don’t know,” showing Cain’s response to God’s question.
- 看守 / 看守 (kànshǒu): Verb meaning “to guard” or “to keep,” which Cain is denying responsibility for Abel.
- 嗎 / 吗 (ma): Question particle used at the end of a sentence to indicate a yes/no question.
5. Cultural Insights
- Responsibility and Accountability: In both the Biblical and Chinese traditions, the theme of responsibility is significant. Cain’s attempt to deny responsibility for Abel’s death reflects the human tendency to avoid accountability for one’s actions. In Chinese culture, filial piety and societal roles place emphasis on responsibility, especially within families.
- The Role of God’s Authority: God’s questioning of Cain reflects divine authority and moral order. In Chinese culture, respect for authority, whether familial, governmental, or divine, is deeply ingrained. This is reflected in the cultural importance of maintaining moral conduct as a way of respecting the social order and divine laws.
- Denial and Evasion: Cain’s denial of knowing where Abel is parallels the Chinese concept of 逃避責任 (táobì zhèrèn), meaning “evading responsibility.” Cain’s evasion is a form of avoidance seen in various cultural contexts where individuals attempt to escape accountability for their actions.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): To remember this, think of “Yēhé” as the sound of authority and “huá” as harmony, reflecting the nature of God as the harmonious authority over all creation.
- 對 / 对 (duì): Think of the word “duì” as pointing towards someone or something, much like the way Cain’s attention is directed when God speaks to him.
- 該隱 / 该隐 (Gāi Yǐn): The name “Gāi” can be remembered as “guilt,” and “Yǐn” as “yielding,” to reflect Cain’s guilt and his yielding to temptation.
- 看守 / 看守 (kànshǒu): “看” (kàn) means “to watch,” and “守” (shǒu) means “to guard.” Imagine Cain’s attempt to avoid his role in guarding his brother’s life.
- 知道 / 知道 (zhīdào): Think of “知道” (zhīdào) as “knowing the truth,” reminding you that Cain is denying knowledge of Abel’s whereabouts.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־קַ֔יִן (Vayomer Yahweh el-Kayin): → 耶和華對該隱說 (Yēhéhuá duì Gāi Yǐn shuō): Both the Hebrew and Chinese describe God speaking to Cain directly.
- אֵ֖י הֶ֣בֶל אָחִ֑יךָ (Eí Hevel achikha): → 你的兄弟亞伯在哪裡 (Nǐ de xiōngdì Yàbó zài nǎlǐ): In both languages, God is asking Cain where his brother is. The direct question in both texts highlights Cain’s evasion of his responsibility.
- לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי (Lo yadati): → 我不知道 (Wǒ bù zhīdào): Cain’s response in both languages is one of denial and avoidance.
- Comparison with English:
- “Where is Abel, your brother?” corresponds to 你的兄弟亞伯在哪裡 (Nǐ de xiōngdì Yàbó zài nǎlǐ): Both languages express the same inquiry about Abel’s whereabouts.
- “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” corresponds to 我不知道，我是看守我兄弟的吗？(Wǒ bù zhīdào, wǒ shì kànshǒu wǒ xiōngdì de ma?): Cain’s evasion is directly reflected in the Chinese version.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Accountability: In both the Bible and Chinese culture, there is an emphasis on personal responsibility. Cain’s refusal to acknowledge his role in Abel’s death can be contrasted with the Chinese principle of accepting responsibility for one’s actions, reflected in the concept of 自責 (zì zé), meaning self-blame.
- Divine Authority and Justice: God’s questioning of Cain aligns with the Chinese understanding of divine justice, where moral actions are weighed by higher powers. The Chinese respect for authority, both familial and divine, mirrors Cain’s confrontation with God’s authority in this passage.
