The Chinese word **缓和** is formed through **compounding**, where two independent morphemes, each with its own meaning, are combined to create a new, related meaning. The first character, **缓** (huǎn), means "slow," "delay," or "relaxed," conveying a sense of reducing speed or tension. The second character, **和** (hé), means "harmonious," "gentle," or "peaceful." When combined, the literal sense of "slowing and harmonizing" evolves into the abstract meaning of "to ease," "to alleviate," or "to relax," as in easing tensions or mitigating a situation. This structure is typical of modern Chinese vocabulary, where two semantically related characters form a coordinative compound expressing a more nuanced or specific concept than either character alone.