| 释义 |
‖ ma nishtana Judaism.|ma niʃˈtana|
Also mah nishtan(n)ah.
[Heb., ‘Why (is this night) different (from all other nights)?’]
The opening words of the four questions in the Passover Haggadah, traditionally asked by the youngest member of a Jewish household on Seder Night; hence used to designate this part of the Passover celebrations.
1902Jewish Chron. 18 Apr. 20/1 After the sanctification (Kiddush) with which our Haggadah begins..the four questions Ma nishtana are read. Ibid. 25 Apr. 20/2 In olden times the children were provided with small nuts and chestnuts to give more zest to the question, ‘Ma nishtana’—‘why is this night different from all other nights?’ 1904Jewish Encycl. VI. 141/2 Its initial words, ‘Mah Nishtannah’, are used as the name of the Haggadah, as in the question: ‘What has Korah..to do in the Mah Nishtannah?’ 1960Jewish Chron. 8 Apr. 27/5 There was for me, the youngest boy, the important task of re-learning the Ma Nishtana. 1972C. Raphael Feast of Hist. iii. 90 The spirit of ma nishtana—the Four Questions in the Haggadah. |