The Chinese word **实用** (shíyòng), meaning "practical" or "useful," is a **compound word** formed by combining two independent characters: **实** (shí), which conveys meanings like "real," "solid," or "actual," and **用** (yòng), which means "to use" or "function." When paired, they create a **modifier-head structure** where **实** modifies **用**, effectively meaning "actual use" or "solid utility." This formation follows a common pattern in modern Chinese where two meaningful morphemes are combined to generate a new, more specific concept that is greater than the sum of its parts, succinctly capturing the idea of something being functional and applicable in real-world situations.