The word 问候 (wènhòu), meaning "to greet" or "to send one's regards", is formed through a logical conceptual combination of its two component characters. The first character, 问 (wèn), means "to ask", and the second, 候 (hòu), carries the sense of "to inquire after" or "to await". When placed together, they create a unified idea that moves beyond simple questioning; it represents the act of asking after someone's state or well-being, thereby encapsulating the polite and caring ritual of a greeting or sending good wishes.