The Chinese word **烈士 (lièshì)**, meaning "martyr," is a compound formed by combining two meaningful characters: **烈 (liè)**, which conveys intensity, fierceness, and righteous fervor (often associated with fiery devotion and sacrifice), and **士 (shì)**, a classical term for a scholar, warrior, or person of principled standing. Together, they create a semantic unit describing a person of unwavering and passionate moral courage who gives their life for a righteous cause, nation, or ideal, with the character **烈** modifying the nature of the **士** to one of ultimate sacrifice and heroic intensity. This formation reflects the deeply embedded cultural valorization of loyalty and sacrificial honor within the Chinese linguistic tradition.