The word "选项" (xuǎnxiàng) is a modern Chinese compound noun formed by combining the verb "选" (xuǎn), meaning "to choose" or "to select," with the noun "项" (xiàng), which means "item" or "category." Together, they create a term that literally means "choice items" or "selection categories," and it is used to denote "options" or "choices," such as those presented in a multiple-choice question, a software menu, or any list of alternatives from which one must select. This formation follows the common grammatical rule in Chinese where two meaningful characters (morphemes) are combined to create a new, specific term whose meaning is derived from the sum of its parts.