The word **桂冠** is a compound term formed by combining **桂** (guì), meaning "laurel" or "cassia tree," and **冠** (guān), meaning "crown" or "headdress." It is a direct lexical borrowing of the ancient Greek and Roman practice of awarding wreaths made from laurel leaves to victors, poets, and heroes as a symbol of honor and supreme achievement. In modern Chinese, the term has evolved into a fixed metaphor, exclusively representing the highest accolade in any field, such as a championship or a Nobel Prize, thus retaining its classical connotation of glory and excellence while being fully integrated into the contemporary lexicon.