The Chinese word 参考 (cānkǎo), meaning "to consult" or "for reference", is a compound word formed by combining two independent characters with related meanings. The first character, 参 (cān), carries connotations of "joining", "participating in", or "consulting", while the second, 考 (kǎo), means "to examine", "to check", or "to verify". When combined, their individual meanings merge to create the concept of "consulting and examining" source materials or existing information, thereby forming the modern sense of using something as a point of reference or guidance.