Genesis 5:3

וַֽיְחִ֣י אָדָ֗ם שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וּמְאַת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וַיֹּ֥ולֶד בִּדְמוּתֹ֖ו כְּצַלְמֹ֑ו וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמֹ֖ו שֵֽׁת

亚当活了一百三十岁，生了一个儿子，形象与自己相似，就给他起名叫塞特。

亚当活了一百三十岁，生了一个儿子，形象与自己相似，就给他起名叫塞特。

Yàdāng huóle yībǎi sānshí suì, shēngle yīgè érzi, xíngxiàng yǔ zìjǐ xiāngsì, jiù gěi tā qǐ míng jiào Sāitè.

Adam lived 130 years and fathered a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.

1. Vocabulary Breakdown

Chinese Character Pinyin Meaning Grammar Role
亚当 Yàdāng Adam (proper noun) Proper noun
活 huó To live Verb
了 le Particle indicating completed action Particle
一百三十岁 yībǎi sānshí suì 130 years old Noun phrase
生 shēng To give birth to; to father Verb
一个 yīgè One; a Measure word
儿子 érzi Son Noun
形象 xíngxiàng Likeness Noun
与 yǔ And; with Preposition
自己 zìjǐ Himself; oneself Pronoun
相似 xiāngsì Similar Adjective
就 jiù Then; so Adverb
给 gěi To give Verb
他 tā Him Pronoun
起名 qǐ míng To name Verb
叫 jiào To call Verb
塞特 Sāitè Seth (proper noun) Proper noun

2. Grammar Explanation

  • 亚当 (Yàdāng): The proper noun for Adam, the first human in biblical tradition.
  • 活了一百三十岁 (huóle yībǎi sānshí suì): “Lived 130 years” uses the verb “活” (to live) with “了” indicating the completion of the action.
  • 形象与自己相似 (xíngxiàng yǔ zìjǐ xiāngsì): “Likeness and similarity to himself” describes the son being in Adam’s image.
  • 就给他起名 (jiù gěi tā qǐ míng): The phrase shows a sequence of events: “then gave him the name.”

3. Pronunciation Practice

  • 亚当 (Yàdāng): [yà dāng] – “Yà” has a falling tone, and “dāng” has a high-level tone.
  • 一百三十岁 (yībǎi sānshí suì): [yī bǎi sān shí suì] – Focus on clear intonation for numbers.
  • 塞特 (Sāitè): [sāi tè] – Both syllables have a high-level tone and a falling tone, respectively.

4. Character Learning

  • 亚当 (Yàdāng): The first human, symbolizing the origin of humanity.
  • 塞特 (Sāitè): Seth, representing the continuation of Adam’s lineage after Abel’s death.

5. Cultural Insights

  • The Concept of Likeness: The description of Seth being in Adam’s image emphasizes the biblical theme of inheritance and continuity, reflecting the transmission of identity and purpose from one generation to the next.
  • Significance of Naming: Naming a child in both biblical and Chinese traditions often signifies purpose, identity, and legacy.

6. Mnemonics for Retention

  • 亚当 (Yàdāng): Remember Adam as the first human and the father of Seth, symbolizing humanity’s beginnings.
  • 塞特 (Sāitè): Recall Seth as the son who continues Adam’s lineage, signifying hope and restoration.

7. Comparative Studies

  • Comparison with Hebrew: The Hebrew phrase “וַיֹּ֥ולֶד בִּדְמוּתֹ֖ו כְּצַלְמֹ֑ו” directly parallels the Chinese “形象与自己相似,” emphasizing Seth’s resemblance to Adam.
  • Comparison with Chinese Culture: Both the Bible and Chinese traditions value the continuation of lineage and inheritance of traits and responsibilities.

8. Application

This passage highlights themes of family legacy, inheritance, and divine image, reminding us of the importance of preserving and passing on values, traditions, and identity across generations.

 

 

By moxi

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