The Chinese word 放射 (fàngshè) is a compound formed by combining two characters, each contributing to its overall meaning: 放 (fàng), which means "to release" or "to let go", and 射 (shè), which means "to shoot" or "to project". Together, they create a metaphorical and literal sense of something being released and projected outward, which perfectly captures the concept of "radiation" or "emission", as in the release and propagation of energy or particles from a central source.