The word 局势 is formed by combining two conceptual characters: 局 (jú), which evokes the idea of a board, a setup, or a constrained situation (like in a chess game), and 势 (shì), which conveys the concept of force, tendency, momentum, or the inherent power and direction within a configuration. Together, they create a compound meaning that visualizes a scenario not as a static picture, but as a dynamic "layout of forces", the arrangement, alignment, and prevailing momentum of elements within a specific situation, typically of a political or military nature.