The word 遥控器 is formed by combining three characters, each contributing a core idea to create the new concept. 遥 (yáo) means "distant" or "far", 控 (kòng) means "to control", and 器 (qì) means "device" or "tool". When sequenced, they logically build the idea from the action to the object: first establishing the method ("distant-control"), and then specifying the category of the item that performs it ("device"), thus directly naming a "device for controlling from a distance", or a remote control.