What is the difference between 神河and 河神
The words are different in &quot;central word(中心语)&quot;.
According to structure of phrase, they're both &quot;偏正短语&quot;. It means, it has a &quot;central word&quot;(usually a noun)(&quot;正&quot; of &quot;偏正&quot;) and a word to describe it(定语)(&quot;偏&quot; of &quot;偏正&quot;). The central word is the most important part of a phrase. It is the essence of the thing the word means.
In &quot;河神&quot;, the central word is &quot;神&quot;. &quot;河&quot; is a word to describe &quot;神&quot;.
Where's the god? (神 is the central word)
In the river. (河 is the 定语 to describe the living place of 神)

In &quot;神河&quot;, &quot;河&quot; is the central word, and &quot;神&quot; is the 定语.
神河属于河神.
shorten it: 河属于神.