Abstract: The formation paths of separable verb-object compounds are variable. In addition to the two conventional paths of lexicalization and de-lexicalization, the separable verb-object compounds can be directly formed by word formation, such as xizao; or by re-analysis of the structure, such as shuijiao and xiyu. The separable form can trigger the semantic change of the morphemes. The latter morpheme of a separable word tends to become ane active noun morpheme, which can participate in word formation; the former morpheme may also evolve—the transitivity of shui is derived from shuijiao and the meaning of shui has also changed. Separable words are not the middle stage of lexicalization, and their separation might be gradually strengthened.

Key words: separable verb-object compound, semantic change, xizao, shuijiao