The word "人士" is formed through a classical Chinese method of compounding, where two independent characters, each with their own meaning, are combined to create a new, more specific concept. The first character, 人 (rén), means "person" or "people", establishing the general category. The second character, 士 (shì), historically denotes a scholar, a person of standing, or a professional. When fused, 士 does not act as a mere modifier but elevates and refines 人, imparting a sense of social role, distinction, or identity. Thus, the compound 人士 moves from a generic "person" to mean "a person of a particular type or status", such as an elite, an expert, or a figure associated with a specific field or group, achieving its meaning through this conceptual merger.