how to say “complex” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/מורכב-#.m4a” /]מֻרְכָּב
Something complex is מורכב[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/מורכב-#.m4a” /] (מורכבת[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/מורכב-#.m4a” /] if we’re talking about a feminine object), as in:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/מורכב-#.m4a” /]שרה, הסיפור הוא יותר מורכב ממה שאת חושבת.
Sarah, the story is more complex than you think.
Like the English word complex, מורכב gives off the sense that that which is complex is worthy of awe and respect, or at least of being taken seriously. A similar word, complicated – in Hebrew, מסובך[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/מורכב-#.m4a” /] – is just a nuisance:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/מורכב-#.m4a” /]אוי, זה מסובך!
Oy, this is complicated!
מורכב comes from the root ר.כ.ב[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/מורכב-#.m4a” /] meaning mounting (or mounting things together) and follows the passive הופעל pattern.
מסובך comes from ס.ב.כ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/מורכב-#.m4a” /] meaning entangled and follows the passive פועל pattern.
