The word 伙计 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing to its overall meaning: 伙 originally conveyed the idea of a partnership, group, or shared living (as in a mess hall or household), while 计 referred to planning, calculation, or managing affairs. Together, they historically described a partner in business or someone who manages shared affairs within a working group. Over time, this evolved into a colloquial term for a shop assistant or clerk, a working partner in a commercial venture, and further into a familiar, friendly form of address between companions, thus fusing the core concepts of partnership and collaborative work into a single term.