The Chinese word **半路** (bànlù), meaning "halfway" or "midway," is a compound formed through semantic combination. It literally joins **半** (bàn), meaning "half," with **路** (lù), meaning "road" or "path." Together, they create a metaphorical expression for being at a midpoint, not just physically on a journey but also figuratively in any process or undertaking, effectively conveying the concept of an incomplete or interrupted state.