The Chinese word 模拟 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core meaning to create a new, unified concept. The first character, 模 (mó), primarily conveys the idea of a "model", "pattern", or "standard". The second character, 拟 (nǐ), carries the meaning of "to draft", "to plan", or "to imitate". When fused, the compound word conceptually means "to use a model as a basis for imitation", resulting in the sense of "to simulate" or "to emulate", where an action or system is deliberately crafted to imitate the features and behaviors of another.