The word 影响 (yǐngxiǎng) is formed by combining two characters, each representing a tangible natural phenomenon, to create an abstract concept of indirect effect. The first character, 影 (yǐng), means "shadow" or "reflection", suggesting something that follows form without being substance. The second, 响 (xiǎng), means "sound" or "echo", implying something that resonates from an original source. Together, they metaphorically convey the idea of an effect that spreads and lingers, much like a shadow's attachment or an echo's reverberation, to signify "influence" or "impact".