The word 更衣室 is formed by combining three meaningful characters: 更, meaning "to change" or "alter"; 衣, meaning "clothing" or "garments"; and 室, meaning "room" or "chamber". These concepts are placed together in a logical, descriptive sequence to create a single idea: a "clothing-changing room", which directly and pictorially represents the function of the space, known in English as a locker room, dressing room, or changing room.