The word 罪名 is formed by combining two conceptual building blocks: 罪, which means "crime" or "guilt", referring to the wrongful act itself, and 名, which means "name" or "designation". Together, they create a composite concept where 名 acts as a container or label for 罪; thus, the word literally means "the name of a crime", evolving to signify the formal charge or accusation that categorizes and defines a specific legal transgression.