The Chinese word **踏板** is a compound noun formed through semantic combination, where each character contributes to the overall meaning. The first character, **踏 (tà)**, means "to step on" or "to tread," conveying the action involved. The second character, **板 (bǎn)**, means "board" or "plank," indicating the object's flat, rigid form. Combined, they create a literal meaning of "step-on board," which logically extends to denote any flat platform or lever designed to be pressed by the foot, such as a pedal (on a bicycle or piano), a footrest, or a treadle. This formation exemplifies a common pattern in Chinese where a verb-object relationship is condensed into a single, efficient noun.