The word "用途" (yòngtú), meaning "purpose" or "use", is a typical Chinese compound formed through semantic combination. It consists of two characters: "用" (yòng), which means "to use" or "function", and "途" (tú), which means "road", "path", or "way". Together, they create a meaning that is more than the sum of its parts, where "途" metaphorically extends the concept of "用" from a simple action to a designated "pathway" or "sphere" for that use, thus forming the abstract noun for the intended application or utility of something.