Since most compounds in Chinese have two morphemes (and therefore two syllables as well), we will first look at the types of bi-morphemic/di-syllabic compounds.
Bi-morphemic
compounds
1.
Parallel compounds: in these
compounds, the two morphemes have similar or identical meanings. There do not seem to be equivalents in
English.
|
parallel
compounds |
meanings
of components |
meaning
of compound |
|
baogao |
report+report |
report |
|
shengyin |
sound
+ sound |
sound |
|
qiguai |
strange
+ strange |
strange |
|
gangcai |
just
now + just now |
just
now |
|
goumai |
buy
+ buy |
buy |
|
xiaoshou |
sell
+ sell |
sell |
|
xuexi |
study
+ practice |
study |
|
bangzhu |
help
+ assist |
help |
2.
Antonymous compounds: the two morphemes of these compounds have either
opposite or contrary meanings, i.e., they are antonyms. There do not seem to be equivalents in
English.
|
antonymous
compounds |
meanings
of components |
meaning
of compound |
|
maimai
|
buy
+ sell |
transaction |
|
zuoyou |
left
+ right |
approximately |
|
gaoai |
Tall
+ short |
height |
|
daxiao |
big
+ small |
size |
|
kaiguan |
open
+ shut |
switch |
|
changduan |
long
+ short |
length |
|
qingzhong |
light
+ heavy |
weight |
|
houbao |
Thick
+ thin |
thickness |
3.
Modified noun compounds: these compounds have a descriptive modifier in
front of the noun. Notice though the
meaning of the compound is different from the simple addition of the meanings
of the components. These are like the blackboard
kind of compounds in English.
|
Modified
noun compounds |
meanings
of components |
meaning
of compound |
|
xiaoren
|
small
+ person |
mean/petty
person |
|
daren |
big
+ person |
adult |
|
rexin |
hot
+ heart |
warm-hearted |
|
shuishou |
water
+ hand |
sailor |
|
dashou |
hit
+ hand |
thug |
|
heiban |
black
+ board |
blackboard |
|
qunian |
go
+ year |
last
year |
|
airen |
love
+ person |
spouse
(mainland china) |
4.
Verb-resultative compounds: in
these compounds, the verbal morpheme is followed by a morpheme indicating the
result of the verbal process. There do
not seem to be equivalents in English.
Verb-resultative compounds |
meanings
of components |
meaning
of compound |
|
gailiang
|
change
+ good |
improve |
|
dapo |
hit
+ broken |
break |
|
tuifan |
push
+ over |
overthrow |
|
kanjian |
look
+ perceive |
see |
|
tingjian |
listen
+ perceive |
hear |
|
wenjian |
sniff
+ perceive |
smell |
|
zhushu |
cook
+ cooked |
cook |
|
tigao |
lift
+ high |
raise |
5.
Verb-object compounds: these compounds consist of a verbal morpheme
followed by an object morpheme. They
are like cut-thoat in English.
Verb-object compounds |
meanings
of components |
meaning
of compound |
|
fangxin |
put
down + heart |
rest-assured,
relax |
|
siji |
manage
+ machine |
driver |
|
geming |
cut
+ life |
revolution |
|
guzhang |
drum
+ palm |
clap |
|
dongyuan |
move
+ personnel |
mobilize
|
|
zhuxi |
in charge of +
chair |
chairman |
|
ganshi |
do
+ thing |
clerk |
|
siyi |
manage
+ ceremony |
master
of ceremony |
6. Subject-predicate compounds: these
consist of a subject followed by a predicate (a verb or descriptive word). They are like earthquake in English.
|
Subject-predicate
compounds |
meanings
of components |
meaning
of compound |
|
dizhen |
ground
+ shake |
earthquake |
|
xinteng |
heart
+ ache |
feel
something is abused/wasted |
|
minzhu |
people
+ decide |
democracy |
|
zijue |
self
+ decide |
self-determination |
|
danxiao |
gallbladder
+ small |
timid |
|
nianqing |
year
+ light |
young |
|
xingji |
personality
+ urgent |
impatient |
|
yueliang |
moon
+ bright |
moon |
Tri-morphemic
compounds
Compounds with more than two morphemes do
exist. We will look at some
tri-morphemic (trisyllabic as well naturally) compounds. In such compounds, the issue of which of
the two morphemes among the three (ABC) are closer structurally (and combined
first) arises. When A and B are closer,
we combine them first before combining the combination with C. We call this left-branching structure, i.e.,
[AB] C. When B and C are closer, we
have right-branching structure: A [BC].
1.
left-branching trisyllabic compounds:
|
|
meanings
of morphemes |
structure |
meanings
of parts |
Meaning
of whole |
|
qingrenjie |
emotion
+ person + festival |
[qingren]jie |
[lover]festival |
valentine’s
day |
|
xiaoshuojia |
small+speak+specialist |
[xiaoshuo]jia |
[novel]
specialist |
novelist |
|
jiayouzhan |
add+oil+station |
[jiayou]zhan |
[oil
filling]station |
gas
station |
|
daxuesheng |
big+school+student |
[daxue]sheng |
[university]student |
college
student |
|
jinhuangse |
gold+yellow+color |
[jinhuang]se |
[gold
yellow]color |
golden
color |
2.
right-branching trisyllabic compounds:
|
|
meanings
of morphemes |
structure |
meanings
of parts |
Meaning
of whole |
|
kaiwanxiao |
open+play+laugh |
kai[wanxiao] |
do
[joke] |
to
joke |
|
chuiniupi |
blow+ox+skin |
chui[niupi] |
blow[ox
skin] |
to
boast |
|
chidoufu |
eat+bean+curd |
chi[doufu] |
eat
[beancurd] |
take
advantage of girls |