The Chinese word 捷径 (jiéjìng), meaning "shortcut", is a compound formed by combining two meaningful characters: 捷 (jié), which conveys "quick", "swift", or "triumphant", and 径 (jìng), which means "path" or "way". Together, they create a metaphorical concept of a "quick path", directly illustrating the idea of a route or method that achieves a goal more rapidly and with less effort than the conventional or longer way, and it is commonly used in both literal (e.g., a physical trail) and figurative (e.g., a clever strategy) contexts.