The word 姑娘 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a layer of meaning related to young womanhood. The first character, 姑, originally evoked the idea of a paternal aunt or, more broadly, a young female family member, carrying connotations of youth and kinship. The second character, 娘, means "mother" or "woman". When paired, 姑 acts as a modifier, softening and specifying 娘; the compound essentially means a "young woman" or "maiden", conceptually blending the youthfulness of a "young female relative" with the core identity of a "woman" to create a respectful and common term for an unmarried girl or young lady.