Compound Breaker
Read compounds by splitting them into smaller meaning-units.
| Compound | Split | Type | Basic meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| राजपुत्रः | राजन् + पुत्र | tatpuruṣa | king’s son |
| धर्मक्षेत्रम् | धर्म + क्षेत्र | tatpuruṣa | field of dharma |
| नीलकमलम् | नील + कमल | karmadhāraya | blue lotus |
| मातापितरौ | माता + पिता | dvandva | mother and father |
| महात्मा | महान् + आत्मा | bahuvrīhi-like | one whose self is great |
Method
- Mark possible word boundaries.
- Identify the last member first.
- Ask what relation the earlier member has to the last member.
- Translate literally, then smooth.