The Chinese word "分子" is formed by combining two characters: "分" and "子". The character "分" is etymologically derived from a pictorial representation of dividing or separating, composed of "八" (indicating division) and "刀" (a knife), symbolizing the act of cutting apart. The character "子" originally depicted a child or offspring, evolving from a pictogram of an infant with a large head. Together, these characters merge conceptually to suggest a "divided part" or "offspring element", reflecting the idea of a constituent unit or member derived from a whole, which aligns with its modern meanings such as "member" or "molecule" without delving into grammatical or lexical details.