此处仅谈复合名词词组的译法。复合名词词组的附加部分是它的定语，译成汉语时通常放在所修饰的名词前，即译成“……的+ (名词）”结构，但有时也根据词组各部分间的语义关系和汉语习惯进行扩展与转换。

1. 将整个复合名词词组扩展成句子

① The slightly porous nature of the surface of the oxide film allows it to be colored with either organic or inorganic dyes.

氧化膜表面具有轻微的渗透性，因而可以用有机或无机染料着色。

② This position was completely reversed by Haber's development of the utilization of nitrogen from the air.

由于哈伯发明了利用空气中的氮气的方法，这种局面就完全改观了。

2. 将整个名词词组转换成动宾结构

Two-eyed, present-day man has no need of such microscopic delicacy in his vision. 

普通的现代人看物体时不需要这种显微镜般的精密程度。

3. 将定语部分转换成状语

A great deal of success in cheapening the process has been achieved in the last few years.

过去几年里，在降低此过程成本方面已经取得了巨大的成功。

4. 将定语从句转换成并列分句、状语从句等

① This is an electrical method which is the most promising when the water is brackish. 

这是ー种电学方法，它最有希望用于半咸水。（并列分句）

② Nowadays it is understood that a diet which contains nothing harmful may result in serious disease if certain important elements are missing.

现在，人们已经懂得，如果食物中缺少了某些重要成分，即使其中不含有任何有害物质，也会引起严重疾病。（状语从句）

复合名词词组的译法很多，但万变不离其宗，即离不开语义关系和语言习惯。例如the flow of water直译是“水的流动”，意译可以是“水流”、“流水” 或“流动的水”，这都符合语义要求和汉语习惯。因此下面一句：

The flow of electricity along a wire may he compared to the flow of water along a pipe, and consequently in known as current.

可译作：我们可以把沿电线流动的电比作沿水管流动的水，为此，我们称电的流动为电流。