The word "杂志" is formed through a conceptual combination of its two component characters. The first character, "杂" (zá), carries the meaning of "mixed", "varied", or "miscellaneous". The second character, "志" (zhì), means "records", "annals", or "documentation". When fused, they create the idea of "a publication containing a mixed collection of records or writings", which is a direct and vivid conceptual description of what a magazine is, a periodical presenting a variety of articles and subjects.