The word "美味" is formed through a direct and intuitive conceptual combination where the first character "美" (měi), meaning "beautiful" or "fine", is used to aesthetically qualify the second character "味" (wèi), meaning "taste" or "flavor". It is a compound that merges an abstract judgment of quality with a concrete sensory experience, creating a single concept that means "delicious food" or "deliciousness". The formation relies on the common cultural and sensory understanding that a truly pleasing flavor is not merely functional but possesses an almost artistic or beautiful quality, thus "beautiful taste" succinctly captures the essence of a highly enjoyable culinary experience.