The Chinese word "头像" (tóuxiàng), meaning "profile picture" or "avatar," is a compound word formed through semantic combination: the first character "头" (tóu) means "head," and the second character "像" (xiàng) means "image," "portrait," or "likeness." Together, they create the literal meaning of "head image" or "portrait of a head," which historically referred to a bust portrait or a depiction focused on the head and shoulders. In modern digital context, this term was naturally adopted to describe the small, representative image of a person (or entity) used as an identifier on social media, forums, and messaging platforms, emphasizing the pictorial representation of one's identity.