The word 薄荷 (mint) is formed by combining two characters that together create a conceptual image of the plant. The first character, 薄, suggests "thin" or "light", likely referring to the plant's delicate, slender leaves. The second, 荷, commonly means "lotus" or "water lily", evoking a similar visual of broad, floating leaves on water. Together, they paint a picture of a delicate, leaf-bearing plant, which aptly describes the appearance of mint.