The compound word 塑造 is formed through the combination of two meaningful characters: 塑, which means "to model" or "to sculpt" (as in shaping clay or plaster), and 造, which means "to make", "to create", or "to build". Together, they create a synthetic word where the meanings blend and extend metaphorically. The term literally denotes the act of physically molding a material, like a sculptor shaping clay, but its primary modern usage is abstract, meaning to shape, form, or mold character, image, public perception, or artistic creation. Thus, the word's formation exemplifies how Chinese compounds often build concrete, action-oriented roots into concepts that describe both physical craftsmanship and influential, formative processes in social, personal, or artistic contexts.