The Chinese word **星级** (xīngjí) is a compound noun formed through semantic combination, where the first character **星** (xīng), meaning "star," modifies the second character **级** (jí), meaning "level" or "grade." It originates from the practice of using star symbols to classify the quality of hotels, restaurants, or services, directly translating the concept of a "star rating." Thus, the term metaphorically extends the astronomical object ("star") into a systematic ranking symbol, creating a new lexical meaning for a standardized tier or class of excellence.