The Chinese word **仪表** is a compound noun formed by combining two semantically related characters: **仪** (yí), which originally conveys concepts of ceremony, ritual, propriety, and outward form, and **表** (biǎo), which means surface, exterior, or to show/display. Together, they create a conceptual blend meaning "outward appearance and demeanor," specifically referring to a person's dignified bearing and appearance. By metaphorical extension, this concept of an "outward display of form" was later applied to mechanical devices that display measurements (like meters and gauges), as these instruments present data visibly on a dial or screen, hence the modern dual meaning encompassing both personal *demeanor* and instrumental *meters*.