The word 熊猫 (panda) is formed by directly combining two characters for animals based on the creature's perceived physical resemblance: 熊 (xióng) means "bear", describing its large, sturdy body, while 猫 (māo) means "cat", capturing its rounded face, distinctive eye markings, and generally more delicate facial features compared to other bears. It’s a purely descriptive compound, essentially naming the animal a "bear-cat" because it looks like a hybrid of the two.