The Chinese word 早晚 (zǎowǎn) is a compound formed by juxtaposing two antonyms: 早 (zǎo), meaning "early", and 晚 (wǎn), meaning "late". This structural method of combining opposite or complementary characters is common in Chinese to express an abstract, overarching concept that encompasses the range between the two extremes. In this case, the literal "morning and evening" extends metaphorically to signify the inevitable passage of time, thus giving the word its primary meaning of "sooner or later" or "eventually". The formation elegantly captures a spectrum of time to convey a sense of certainty or an ultimate outcome.