The word **芝麻** (zhīma), meaning "sesame," is a disyllabic compound formed through semantic combination, where each character contributes to the overall meaning. The character **芝** originally referred to a type of fragrant plant or mushroom in classical texts, later extending to signify something fine or excellent. The character **麻** means "hemp" or describes plants with fibrous stalks. When combined, **芝麻** essentially denotes a "fine hemp-like plant," a name that aptly describes the sesame plant—an herbaceous crop valued for its oily seeds, distinct from true hemp but sharing some similar agricultural or utilitarian characteristics, thus creating a precise and vivid botanical term through descriptive synthesis.