The word **支出 (zhīchū)** is a compound formed by combining two characters, each with distinct meanings that together create a new semantic unit. The first character, **支 (zhī)**, carries the core idea of "to support," "to disburse," or "to branch out," implying a directional movement away from a source. The second character, **出 (chū)**, means "to go out" or "to exit." When combined in this verb-object construction, the literal sense is "to disburse (funds) out (of an account)," evolving into the modern noun meaning "expenditure" or the verb "to spend," specifically referring to the outward flow of money or resources.