The Chinese word 厚道 (hòudao) is a compound formed by combining two characters, each contributing its semantic meaning to create an abstract moral concept. The first character, 厚 (hòu), literally means "thick" or "deep," conveying a sense of richness, substantiality, and generosity. The second character, 道 (dào), means "way," "path," or "principle," representing a guiding doctrine or manner of conduct. Together, they form a metaphor where a "thick" or "substantial way" describes a person's character as being genuinely kind, honest, tolerant, and unwilling to take advantage of others, thus embodying the virtues of decency and good-heartedness.