The way he acts, you’d think compassion was a dirty word. 

【翻译】根据他的所作所为，你会认为“同情”这个词用在他身上是个被沾污了的字眼。

看了Expert的翻译，不晓得想表达什么意思。

【讲解】这句话的难点不在dirty word，关键是the way的用法。The way he acts = According to how he acts（根据他的所作所为）。

下面我重点讲解这个词语的语义和语法作用。the way用作连词，在美国英语中已相当普遍，那么，它到底是什么意思，能引导什么从句呢？

1. the way=as（像）

Please do it the way I’ve told you. 请按照我告诉你的那样做。

I'm talking to you just the way I'd talk to a boy of my own. 我和你说话就像和自己孩子说话一样。

In 1770 the room was completed the way she wanted. 1770年，这间琥珀屋按照她的要求完成了。

2. the way=how（怎样，多么）

No one can imagine the way he misses her. 没人能够想象出他是多么想念她！

I want to find out the way a volcano has formed. 我想弄清楚火山是怎样形成的。

That’s the way she speaks. 她就是那样讲话的。

3. the way = according as 或according to how = judged from how（根据；根据...判断）

你的句子就属于这种结构用法。请看例句：

The way you answer the questions, you must be an excellent student. 根据你回答问题来看，你一定是名优秀的学生。

The way most people look at you, you'd think a dustman was a monster. 从大多数人看你的目光中,你就知道垃圾工在他们眼里是怪物。

I might have been his son the way he talked. 根据他说话的样子，好像我是他的儿子一样。

The boy must be a stranger here, the way he looks into the shop windows.根据男孩向商店橱窗张望德样子，看来他一定是这里的陌生人。

4.the way=because（因为）

No wonder that girl looks down upon me, the way you encourage her. 难怪那个女孩看不起我, 原来是你怂恿的。

How silly she is, the way she asks questions about this and that! 她不断地问这问那，显得好不愚蠢！

5. the way=that（引导主语从句）

It was boring the way he kept complaining to his wife. 他一直向他妻子抱怨令人心烦。

It was shameful the way she was treated. 她竟然受到那样的对待，太不象话了。

It's a crime the way he bullies his children.  像他那样欺负自己的孩子真缺德。