The word 气息 is formed through a poetic, almost physical blending of two deeply related concepts: 气 (qì), which fundamentally means "air", "breath", or "vital energy", and 息 (xī), which means "breath" (specifically the exhale) and by extension, "to rest" or "the pulse of life". Together, they do not merely list two items but fuse into a single, evocative notion, the living, breathing quality of something. It captures the intangible yet perceptible "breath" or atmosphere that emanates from a being, a place, or even an artwork, conveying its vitality, mood, or essential character as if it were a literal, rhythmic exhalation one can almost feel.