The word 精灵 is formed through a conceptual fusion of two ancient ideas: 精 (jīng), which represents the essential, refined energy or essence of something (like the quintessence of life or nature), and 灵 (líng), which denotes supernatural intelligence, animating spirit, or mystical responsiveness. Combined, they do not merely add meanings but synthesize to evoke a singular, ethereal being, a creature possessing both the purified, vital essence of the natural world and the conscious, animate, and often magical spirit that allows it to transcend the ordinary. This union creates the classic concept of a "spirit" or "elf", an intelligent, supernatural entity born from the very soul of the world.