The Chinese word **宗旨** is a compound formed by combining two semantically related characters: **宗**, which originally means "ancestor" or "clan founder" and by extension conveys the sense of "fundamental source" or "primary principle," and **旨**, which means "purpose," "intention," or "aim." Together, they create a coordinated (or synonymous) compound where both elements reinforce a shared abstract concept, resulting in the meaning "guiding principle," "tenet," or "core objective." The formation exemplifies how classical Chinese often builds abstract nouns by pairing characters with overlapping or complementary meanings to express a nuanced, consolidated idea—in this case, the fundamental purpose or central aim that serves as a foundational guide.