The Chinese word 备忘录 (bèiwànglù), meaning "memorandum" or "memo", is a compound word formed through a logical semantic combination: it begins with the verb-object phrase 备忘 (bèiwàng), meaning "to guard against forgetting" or "to aid memory", where 备 (bèi) means "to prepare for" and 忘 (wàng) means "to forget"; this is then combined with the noun 录 (lù), meaning "a record". Thus, the entire term literally translates to "a record for aiding memory" or "a record to prepare against forgetting", perfectly capturing the function of a written note or formal diplomatic document that serves as a reminder or an official note of a agreement.