The word 婚纱 (wedding dress) is formed through a direct and evocative conceptual combination. The first character, 婚 (hūn), means "marriage" or "wedding", establishing the specific occasion. The second character, 纱 (shā), means "gauze", "veil", or "sheer fabric", denoting the primary material and delicate, ethereal quality characteristic of the attire. Together, they create a simple, image-based compound that literally means "wedding gauze", instantly conjuring the visual and symbolic essence of the bridal gown itself.