The Chinese version of Isaac is 以撒 (Yǐ sǎ). This is a common transliteration used to represent the name Isaac, particularly in biblical and historical contexts.
The name Isaac is derived from Hebrew and means "he laughs" or "laughter." In Chinese, personal names, especially those of foreign origin, are typically transliterated based on their pronunciation rather than their meaning. The characters 以撒 (Yǐ sǎ) are chosen to phonetically approximate the sound of "Isaac" in Mandarin Chinese.
Understanding 以撒 (Yǐ sǎ)
Here's a breakdown of the Chinese characters and their Pinyin:
| English Name | Chinese Characters | Pinyin (Mandarin) |
|---|---|---|
| Isaac | 以撒 | Yǐ sǎ |
- 以 (Yǐ): This character is often used in transliterations for sounds like "yi" or "i."
- 撒 (sǎ): This character is used to represent the "sac" or "sa" sound in foreign names.
This transliteration is widely recognized, particularly within Christian communities and in academic texts that discuss biblical figures. It accurately conveys the sound of "Isaac" while adhering to Chinese phonetic conventions.
