The Chinese word 神灵 (shénlíng) is a compound term formed by combining two semantically related characters: 神 (shén), meaning "deity", "god", or "divine being", and 灵 (líng), meaning "spirit", "soul", or possessing supernatural efficacy. This is an example of a coordinative or synonymous compound, where both elements reinforce and elaborate on a similar core concept. Together, they create a more comprehensive and potent notion than either character alone, broadly referring to gods, spirits, or divine and supernatural entities in a collective sense, encompassing their power, presence, and ethereal nature.