About
The word "门廊" (ménláng), meaning "porch" or "portico," is a classic example of a modern Chinese compound word formed through semantic combination, where two meaningful characters (morphemes) are joined to create a new, specific concept. The first character, "门" (mén), means "door" or "gateway," establishing the word's association with an entryway. The second character, "廊" (láng), means "corridor," "veranda," or "covered walkway," indicating a sheltered, passage-like structure. When combined, "门廊" essentially denotes a "door corridor"—a covered structure at the entrance of a building, perfectly illustrating how Chinese frequently constructs precise terms by logically pairing existing semantic units.