[因果]{いん・が}: A bass-ackwards contraction? In Japanese, we often see where the beginnings of multiple words are taken to make a contraction word. > * → **** **** → A juniour college > * → **** **** → income and expenditure; earnings and expenses > * → **** **** → The United Nations > * → **** **** → Remote control(ler) > However, `` is an abbreviation for **** ****. I can't say I've seen any other words formed by combining the end pieces. Why did come about this way? Why isn't the abbreviation ``? If you have other examples please list them. * * * Edit: Oops, yes, of course I meant ``, not ``. I was multitasking and my wires got crossed.

Perhaps the following would reek of Chinese thinking, where for example is traditionally thought of as _two_ words.

= of the , i.e. causing reason

= which has , i.e. the produced result

Both words arose in Chinese as a way to eliminate homophones by adding redundant adjectives (obviously all reasons are causing, and all results are produced). The original words are simply and ; thus they are used in compounds. Put it another way, the compound "" probably is older than the words "" and "", which came after sound changes caused much homophones.

This is similar to how {} had too many homophones and useless was added, and {} had too many homophones and was added; you still use and in compounds though.