The word "大亨" (dàhēng), meaning "tycoon" or "magnate," is a compound term formed through semantic fusion. Its first character, "大" (dà), means "big" or "great," connoting scale and importance. The second character, "亨" (hēng), is more nuanced; in classical Chinese, it means "to go through smoothly" or "to prosper," often associated with success and unimpeded progress, as seen in the *Book of Changes* (*Yijing*). Historically, the term originally described a major thoroughfare or a smooth, open path. By the late Qing and early Republican era, its meaning underwent a semantic shift via metaphor: just as a major road allows for smooth passage, a powerful person clears obstacles and commands influence, leading "大亨" to specifically denote a wealthy and influential business or political figure. Thus, the word combines the concepts of greatness ("大") and prosperous success ("亨") to describe an individual of substantial power and affluence.