The word "开幕式" (kāimùshì) is a compound noun formed through semantic combination, where each character contributes to the overall meaning: "开" (kāi) means "to open," "幕" (mù) originally means "curtain" (specifically a theater curtain) and here signifies "the commencement of an event," and "式" (shì) means "ceremony" or "formality." Thus, the term literally and metaphorically describes the "curtain-opening ceremony," a formal event to mark the commencement of a larger occasion like the Olympic Games or a conference, efficiently conveying the concept of an inaugural ritual through its vivid, stage-derived imagery.