The word 怪兽 is formed by combining two characters: 怪, which conveys the idea of something strange, unusual, or monstrous, and 兽, which means beast or animal. Together, they create a composite concept where the first character describes the nature of the second, picturing a "strange beast" or a "monstrous animal". This direct fusion visually and conceptually builds the idea of a creature that is inherently unnatural and fearsome, much like the Western concept of a "monster".