The Chinese word 轰炸 (hōngzhà, meaning "to bomb" or "to bombard") is a compound formed through semantic combination, where both constituent characters contribute related meanings to create a more specific and intense concept. The first character, 轰 (hōng), is primarily onomatopoeic, imitating a loud rumbling or explosive sound, and by extension carries the meaning of a thunderous noise or impact. The second character, 炸 (zhà), means "to explode" or "to blast". When combined, 轰 emphasizes the roaring, overwhelming auditory and percussive nature of the action, while 炸 specifies the act of detonation or violent destruction, together vividly conveying the full sensory and destructive reality of an aerial or artillery bombing raid.