The compound word 般配 (bānpèi), meaning "well-matched" or "suited", is formed through the semantic combination of its two constituent characters: 般, which in this context carries the classical meaning of "sort", "kind", or "to arrange in order", and 配, which means "to join", "to pair", or "to complement". Historically, 般 was used in terms like 般度 (to measure), implying a standard or proportion, while 配 has long been associated with marriage and partnership (as in 配偶, spouse). Together, they create a concept where two people or things are viewed as being of the same appropriate "kind" or "proportion", thereby forming a harmonious and fitting pair, perfectly aligned in social status, appearance, or character.