The Chinese word **凶猛** (xiōngměng) is a compound adjective formed through the morphological process of **synonym pairing**, where two independent characters with closely related meanings are combined to intensify and solidify a single concept. The first character, **凶** (xiōng), carries the core meaning of "fierce," "ferocious," or "inauspicious," often describing a malevolent nature or dangerous threat. The second character, **猛** (měng), means "violent," "fierce," "sudden," or "energetic," emphasizing an intense, powerful, and forceful action. When paired, **凶** provides the inherent malignant quality, while **猛** adds the dynamic intensity of the ferocity, creating the complete meaning of "savagely fierce," "ferocious," or "viciously powerful," commonly used to describe predators, storms, or attacks.