The name "孙悟空" is formed by combining three characters: 孙, chosen as a surname derived from "猢狲" (macaque) to reference monkey ancestry; 悟, meaning "awaken" or "comprehend"; and 空, meaning "emptiness" or "sky". Together, "悟空" conveys "awakened to emptiness", and the full name was assigned to the Monkey King in the classic novel "Journey to the West" by his master Subhuti, directly reflecting his character and narrative role.