Why do students have a wrong understanding? Mainly because they didn't master the compound words in ancient Chinese, they took "city" as a word for granted, so they had this misunderstanding. So, how to judge whether it is a word or a compound word in this case? The method is as follows:
First of all, Lian Mian words left over from ancient Chinese are not compound words. According to the ancient and modern principles, Lian Mian's words cannot be interpreted separately, but only as a whole, and separation is meaningless. Such as earthworm, swing, loquat, glass, hutong and so on.
Secondly, onomatopoeic words in ancient Chinese are not compound words. For example, the two words "spit dumb" and "ridicule" in Bai Juyi's Pipa Xing are actually the same (Bai Juyi's Pipa Xing), and they cannot be said separately. Only when they are combined can they form a complete meaning. The phrase "the bottom of the flower is slippery" in the same sentence (ditto) is the cry of an oriole, which cannot be explained separately. "The god of thunder and lightning, the hill collapses" (the "thunderbolt" in Li Bai's "Climbing Mount Tianmu in a Dream" describes thunder and lightning, which cannot be explained separately. )
Third, proper nouns are not compound words. For example, the word "lotus" in From Blooming to Blooming (Lotus by Li Yu) refers to "lotus". The word "Peng Li" in "Peng Li has Shi Zhongshan in his mouth" (Shi Zhongshan by Su Shi) refers to "Poyang Lake". They are all proper nouns, and the names can't be explained. Only when they are combined can they have complete meaning.
Third, synonymous compounds are not compounds. For example, the word "De" in "So be patient and get what you can't do" (Mencius was born in sorrow and died in happiness) is synonymous: the word "axe weight" in "All the poor want to take it with an axe" (Su Shi's Shi Zhongshan Ji) is also synonymous. These two situations do not need to be explained separately, nor are they compound words.
Finally, compound words with partial meanings are not compound words. For example, there is a hole under the mountain, and I don't know how shallow it is (Shi Zhongshan by Su Shi). The word "shallow" is more important than the latter word, and the word "urgent" in Ji Ji is also more important than the latter word (Tan Sitong by Liang Qichao). These two situations do not need to be explained separately, but only have meaning and do not belong to compound words.
Besides, the disyllabic words in ancient Chinese must be interpreted separately and they are all compound words. When translating, we must deal with it carefully and analyze it word by word. Please look at the following example:
1. Why don't you tie up your armor and deal with it in the north?
(Sima Guang Battle of Red Cliffs).
North: facing north.
Although Cao Cao pretends to be a Chinese thief.
(The source is the same as above)
Actually: He, actually.
3. The separatist forces in Jiangdong cover thousands of miles.
(The source is the same as above)
Location: Fiona Fang Land.
4. Lead your wife to this desperate situation.
(Tao Yuanming's Peach Blossom Garden)
Wife: wife, children.
The first emperor was not mean to me.
("Zhuge Liang's Model")
It means: low status and poor knowledge.