The word 牧场 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core meaning to create a new, unified concept. The first character, 牧, depicts a hand holding a stick over an ox, representing the action of herding or tending livestock. The second character, 场, signifies an open, level area or field. When placed together, they visually and conceptually merge to depict "a field for herding", literally, the place where the action of tending animals occurs, thus forming the meaning of "pasture", "ranch", or "grazing land".