The Chinese word "阴影" is formed through the semantic combination of two characters: "阴", which denotes darkness, shade, or the hidden, and "影", which means shadow, silhouette, or reflection. Together, they create a compound where "阴" qualitatively modifies "影" to emphasize a dark or obscure shadow, resulting in a term that conveys both literal shaded areas and metaphorical gloom, such as psychological or emotional shadows. This formation arises from the conceptual blending of visual and abstract elements, where each character's meaning contributes to a unified idea of a dim imprint cast by light or circumstance.