The word **如意** (rúyì) is a classical Chinese compound formed through semantic combination, where each character contributes to a unified metaphorical meaning. The first character, **如** (rú), means "to follow" or "according to," and the second, **意** (yì), means "wish," "thought," or "intention." Thus, the literal construction signifies "as (one) wishes" or "in accordance with desire." Historically, it originated from the name of a ceremonial scepter (an *ruyi*), a talismanic object symbolizing the power to fulfill wishes, which then lent its name to the abstract concept of having one's wishes satisfied, leading to its modern meaning of "satisfactory" or "as one desires."