The Chinese word 血缘 (xuèyuán), meaning "blood relation" or "consanguinity", is a compound formed through the combination of two distinct morphemes: 血 (xuè), which literally means "blood", and 缘 (yuán), which conveys the idea of "connection", "fate", or "bond". Conceptually, it is formed by a metaphor where the tangible, biological substance of "blood" is used to represent the abstract, inherited connection between relatives. This creates a powerful conceptual blend that defines familial kinship as an innate, unbreakable bond passed down through generations, commonly used to discuss family lineage, ethnicity, and genetic ties.