The word 神父 is formed by combining two conceptual ideas: 神 (shén), meaning "deity" or "divine", with 父 (fù), meaning "father". It does not describe a literal father, but creatively applies the familial concept of a paternal authority and caretaker to the religious sphere, resulting in the meaning "father of the divine" or "spiritual father", specifically referring to a Catholic priest. The term thus constructs its meaning through a metaphorical fusion of the sacred and the familial role.