複合字面面觀

複合字面面觀
複合字是一種語文的化學反應（Chemical reaction in language），也是語言上的經濟手法（linguistic economy device）。其轉換過程是先將子句（clause）變為片語（Phrase），再把片語變為字（Word）－即是複合字。其中的關係代名詞（Relative Pronoun）和介係詞（preposition），皆可刪除。且舉例說明：
例一：The girl who has big eyes is my student.
The girl with big eyes is my student.
The big-eyed girl is my student. （大眼睛的女孩是我的學生）
例二：That man who is conscious of image is here.
That man conscious of image is here.
That image-conscious man is here. （那位重形象的人在此）

複合字十大類型： 
A V-ing as pivot-element type：
（以V-ing為構成複合字的主要成份）
A-1 （N-V-ing）
The boy who hits the book is a straight-A student.
The book-hitting boy is a straight-A student. （這位K書的學生是優等生）
The man who abides by the law is a good citizen
=The law-abiding man is a good citizen. （奉公守法的人是好國民）
其他例子：
peace-loving people（愛好和平的人士） fact-finding group（視察團）
注意：1. 本類型中的動詞一定是主動語態（active voice）
2. 凡慣用語中由動詞與名詞組成的，皆可變成形容詞複合字。
如： pass the buck--buck-passing（推諉責任的）
lose face--face-losing（丟臉的）
tighten one’s belt--belt-tightening（節省的）
twist one’s arm--arm-twisting（強迫的）
但是，慣用語中的名詞若是複數，必須把複數改為單數。例如：
mend one’s fences--fence-mending（改善關係）
spill the beans--bean-spilling（洩漏秘密）
name names--name-naming（指名帶姓指認出）
call one names--name-calling（中傷）
例外：.take pains—painstaking(費時費力)
A-2 （self-V-ing）
The clock which winds itself looks beautiful.
The self-winding clock looks beautiful. （自動上發條的鐘看起來很美觀）
The student who supports himself works at a fast-food restaurant.
The self-supporting student works at a fast-food restaurant.
（自力更生的學生在一家速食店工作）。
本類型中的反身代名詞（Reflexive Pronoun），一律改成self-
A-3 （Adj-V-ing）
The pill which tastes bitter is a panacea.
The bitter-tasting pill is a panacea. （這苦味的藥丸是一種萬靈丹）
The man who looks handsome is a movie star.
The handsome-looking man is a movie star. (這位長的很帥的人是電影明星）
本類型中的動詞，僅限於連綴動詞（Linking Verbs：be, become, grow等）和感官動詞（Sense Verbs：look, sound, taste, smell, feel等）
A-4 （Adv-V-ing）
（a）The adverbs with-ly：
The bus which moves slowly broke down on the road.
The slowly-moving bus broke down on the road. （走得很慢的公車拋錨在路中）
The company which expands rapidly went bust/broke/under.
The rapidly-expanding company went bust/broke/under. （擴張迅速的公司倒閉了）
（b）The adverbs such as hard, far, well, ill, fast, etc：
The man who works hard can go a long way.
The hard-working man can go a long way. （認真工作的人一定會成功）
The custom which reaches far is a good one.
The far-reaching custom is a good one. （影響深遠的習俗是好習俗）
（c）The adverbs of frequency：always, usually often, sometimes, seldom and never.
The population which always increases is amazing.
The ever-increasing population is amazing. （不斷增加的人口相當驚人的）
The rule which often changes makes people confused.
The oft-changing rule makes people confused. （常常改變的規矩令人無法適從）。
本類型中，要特別注意－換成複合字過程中，應將always改成ever－，以及often改為oft－，其餘不必交換。

A- 5（P-V-ing）（P指介係詞（preposition））
The call which comes in is from John Doe.
The in-coming call is from John Doe. （打進來的電話是張三打來的）
The call which goes out is from Richard Roe.
The out-going call is from Richard Roe. （打出去的電話是李四打的）
但，in-coming、out-going具有不同的意義，如：
in-coming ship（進港的船） out-going ship（出港的船）
in-coming Premier（即將上任的行政院長）
out-going Premier（即將卸任的行政院長）
B. V-pp as pivot-element Type：
（以V-pp＜動詞過去分詞＞為構成複合字的主要成分）
B-1（N-V-pp）：
The dress which is made by a tailor costs much more expensive.
The tailor-made dress costs much more expensive. （訂做的衣服較為昂貴）
The wine which is made at home tastes wonderful.
The home-made wine tastes wonderful. （國產的酒味道不錯）
本類型中動詞，一定是被動語態（Passive Voice）。出現率相當頻繁。
B-2（Self-V-pp）：
The scholar who was educated by himself passed away yesterday：
The self-educated scholar passed away yesterday.
（那位無師自通的學者昨天去世。）
The man who was made by himself started his business on a shoestring.
The self-made man started his business on a shoestring.
（那位白手起家的人靠極少的資本開始做生意。）
本類型中的反身代名詞（Reflexive Pronoun），一律改成Self－字樣。
B-3（Adj-V-pp）
The food which is made ready is a steal.
The ready-made food is a steal. （現成的食物價格如檢來的便宜東西。）
The meat which is roasted fresh looks awful.
The fresh-roasted meat looks awful. （現烤的肉看起來很噁心。）
B-4（Adv-V-pp）：
1. The adverbs with the ending-ly.
The plan which was developed recently started with a bang.
The recently-developed plan started with a bang.
（最近發展的計畫進行的有聲有色。）
2. The adverbs such hard、far、well、ill、fast、etc.
The area which is hit hard has been declared a disaster zone.
The hard-hit area has been declared a disaster zone.（受損嚴重的地區被視為災區。）
3. The adverbs of frequency：always、usually、sometimes、seldom and never.
The law which is always criticized must make some adjustment.
The ever-criticized law must make some adjustment.
（一直受批評的法規應做適度的調整。）

本類型中，在轉變複合字過程中，應將always改成ever－，和often改為oft－，其餘照原字不必更換。
B-5（V-pp-P） （P.係指介系詞Preposition）。
The worker who was laid off staged a sit-in.
The laid-off worker staged a sit-in. （被裁員的工人開始靜坐抗議。）
The plan which is well thought out works wonders.
The well-thought-out plan works wonders.
（經過深思熟慮的計畫獲得令人驚奇的成功。）

本類型中，複合字形成大部分來自慣用語。
C-Adj as pivot-element Type：
（以形容詞為構成複合字的主要成份。）
C-1（N-Adj）：
The adjectives such as ：-conscious、-foolish、-free、-greedy、-happy、-high、-hungry、-long、-mad、-proof、-prone、-proud、-sich、-rich、-short、-thirsty、-weary、-wide、-wise、-worthy、etc.
The candidate who is conscious of image was defeated in the election.
=The image-conscious candidate was defeated in the election.
（注重形象的候選人選舉失利。）
The lawmaker who is greedy for power is looked down upon by the people.
=The power-greedy lawmaker is looked down upon by the people.
（貪勢貪利的立委令人瞧不起。）
The country which is rich in oil has a cradle-to-grave social welfare system.
=The oil-rich country has a cradle-to-grave social welfare system.
（盛產石油的國家施行終生社會福利制度。）
本類型中，形成複合字過程中，形容詞後的介系詞（be+Adj+prep+N），皆應刪除。
又此類型常以as…..as型態出現。例子如下：
The sword is as sharp as razor = The razor-sharp sword.
（銳如刀片的劍。）
其他例子如下：
dirt-cheap（賤如糞土的） feather-light（輕如羽毛的） fire-hot（火熱的）
ice-cold（冰冷的） brand-new（全新的） paper-thin（薄如紙，極微的）
pitch-dark（漆黑的） rock-hard（硬如石的） sky-high（高入雲霄的，極高的）
snow-white（雪白的）
C-2（Self-Adj）：
The girl who is conscious of herself seldom goes to the party.
=The self-conscious girl seldom goes to the party.
（羞怯的女孩子很少參加宴會。）
本類型中，不要忘記把反身代名詞，改成self－字樣。
C-3（Adv-Adj）
The threat which is always present makes people ill at ease.
=The ever-present threat makes people ill at ease.（一直存在的威脅令人不安。）
The student who is often absent was eventually kicked out of school.
=The oft-absent was eventually kicked out of school.
(常常缺席的學生終於被學校開除。）
同樣的，本類型中的always、often，勿忘記改的ever-、oft-字樣。
D-P as pivot-element Type：
（以介系詞為首的慣用語，成為製造複合字的主要成份）。
此類型最簡單，最容易。在更換過程中，隻字都不必更改更換，只在字與字間加上連字號（hyphen）即可。例子如下：
behind-the-scenes meeting（幕後的或秘密的會議）
a university is on the air.=An on-the-air university（空中大學）
The patient who has a nurse around the clock.
=The patience has a round-the-clock nurse service.（那位病人24小時有護士照顧。）
We will welcome our guests with open arms.
=We will give our guests a with-open-arms welcome.
（我們將以最隆重歡迎來迎接我們的客人。）

其他例子如下：
on-the-run suspect（逃亡中的嫌犯） still-at-large murder（消遙法外的兇手）
on-the-spot inspection（現場的視察） across-the-board pay hike（全盤性的加薪）
under-the-counter sale（秘密的交易） 
over-the-counter medicine（公開出售的藥，既成藥）
E. Preposition Compounds : 以(Noun + Preposition + Noun)為構成複合字的主要成份，其中的介系詞以to. by. for 和in為主。
E-1 (N - to - N):
(a) (N - to - N): (Same):
face-to-face meeting (面對面的會議) shoulder-to-shoulder fight (並肩作戰)
heart-to-heart talk (衷誠的談話) eye-to-eye agreement (完全的同意)
neck-to-neck contest (不分上下的比賽)
(b) (N - to - N): (from N to N):
cover-to-cover reading (逐字逐頁的閱讀) 
house-to-house sale (挨家挨戶的推銷)
coast-to-coast tour (全國性的旅遊)
(c) (N - to - N): (from A to B):
dusk-to-dawn curfew (傍晚至天亮的戒嚴) rags-to-riches man (白手起家的人)
hand-to-mouth life (僅足餬口的生活) cradle-to-grave plan (一生的計劃)
nine-to-five man (朝九晚五的人) 
E-2 (N - by - N):
step-by-step teaching (按部就班的教學) case-by-case basic (個別的方式)
side-by-side fight (並肩作戰)
E-3 (N - for - N):
word-for-word translation (逐字的翻譯) eye-for-eye revenge (以眼還眼的報復)
tooth-for-tooth bloodshed (以牙還牙的流血) tit-for-tat lashing (一報還一報的鞭打)
E-4 (N - of- ( the ) -N):
state-of-the-art hi-tech (頂棒的尖端科技) top-of-the-line weapon (精良的武器)
wind-of-change politician (巨變中的政治人物) run-of-the-mill affair (平凡的事物)
E-5 (N - in- ( the ) -N):
head-in-the-sand thinking (不切實際的想法) hole-in-the-wall store (簡陋的小店)
flash-in-the-pan success (短暫的成長) pie-in-the-sky vision (虛幻的遠景)


F. Conjunction Compounds : 
F-1 (N - Conj - N):
(a) (N - and - N):
carrot-and-stick policy (軟硬兼施的政策) salt-and-pepper issue (黑白的問題)
nickel-and-dime store (小本的生意) five-and-ten store (同上)
mom-and-pop store (同上) boom-and-bust cycle (繁榮與不景氣的交替)
(b) (N - or - N):
rain-or-shine picnic (風雨無阻的郊遊) neck-or-nothing election (決定性的選舉)
all-or-nothing election (決定性的選舉) feast-or-famine business (時好時壞的生意)
F-2 (V - Conj - V):
(a) (V - and - V):
wait-and-see attitude (觀望的態度) touch-and-go situation (一觸即發的局面)
open-and-shut case (簡單的案件) give-and-take compromise (互相讓步的妥協)
hum-and-haw answer (吞白吐吐的回答)
(b) (V - or - V):
make-or-break election (決定性的選舉) make-or-mar election (決定性的選舉)
put-up-or-shut-up warning (提出更好的意見否則閉嘴的警告)
shape-up-or-ship-out warning (整頓否則解散的警告)
F-3 (Adj - Conj - Adj):
(a) (Adj - and - Adj):
thick-and-thin friend (同甘共苦的朋友) null-and-void treaty (完全無效的條約)
high-and-dry help (孤苦無助) rough-and-ready method (權宜的方法)
(b) (Adj - or - Adj):
more-or-less loss (或多或少的損失) now-or-never chance (千載難逢的機會)
(c) (Adj - but - Adj):
slow-but-sure progress (穩定的進步)
separate-but-equal education (隔離但平等的教育)
F-4 (V-ing - Conj – V-ing):
flipflopping-and-zigzagging policy (優柔寡斷的政策)
huffing-and-puffing warning (怒沖沖的警告)
toing-and-froing distance (來回的路程)
wheeling-and-dealing manager (精明能幹的經理)
F-5 (V-pp - Conj – V-pp):
cut-and-dried meeting (預先定好的會議) buried-and-forgotten man (被遺忘的人)
G. Idiosycratic Compounds:
G-1 Quotation compounds:
no-news-is-good-news attitude (無消息即好消息的態度)
catch-as-you-catch speech (臨時應付的演說)
pay-as-you-go system (預扣所得稅制度)
引用複合字，為權宜起見，凡較長而無法歸類於上述幾項類型者，皆屬
本此類型。形成簡單，把全句，片語視為形容詞，字與字間加上連字號(-)即可。

G-2 Adj - N-ed – Compounds
這是複合字中最特殊的一種，其中名詞加上動詞過去式(N-ed)，用途有
下列三種，分別說明如下:
(a) 身體任何部位(肉體上的或是精神上的):
long-faced girl (拉長臉的女孩) quick-witted diplomat (機警的外交官)
cold-blooded murder (殘酷的謀殺) tip-lipped official (守口如瓶的官員)
(b) 房屋的任何部分:
high-ceiling house (天花板高的屋子) green-roofed building (綠頂的大樓)
glass-walled atrium (玻璃牆的中庭) gold-domed building (金圓頂的大樓)
(c) 顏色、大小尺寸、口味等等:
black-colored dress (黑色的衣服) medium-sized car (中型的車子)
sour-flavored fruit (酸味的水果) 
G-3 Odds-and-ends compounds:
would-be hero (自充的英雄) also-ran candidate (落選的候選人)
has-been writer (江郎才盡的作家) odds-on candidate (很可能當選的候選人)
can-do confidence (幹勁十足的信心)