The Chinese word "小巷" (xiǎo xiàng) is a compound noun formed by combining the adjective "小" (xiǎo), meaning "small" or "narrow", with the noun "巷" (xiàng), which means "lane" or "alley". This follows the common grammatical structure in Chinese where a modifier precedes the core noun, creating a precise and descriptive term that literally translates to "small lane" and evokes the image of a narrow, often intimate or traditional, pathway between buildings.