The word 狗熊 is formed by combining the character 狗, meaning "dog", with the character 熊, meaning "bear", to create a compound noun. The 狗 component acts as a modifier, describing the bear as having dog-like attributes, such as its size or snout shape, which distinguishes it from other bears, specifically referring to the Asian black bear. This direct combination of two concrete nouns results in a new term that identifies a particular animal.