The Chinese word 鞋带 (xiédài), meaning "shoelace", is a straightforward compound noun formed by combining two independent characters: 鞋 (xié), which means "shoe", and 带 (dài), which means "strip", "belt", or "band". This structure follows the common Chinese word-formation principle where a primary noun (鞋) is modified or specified by a second noun (带) that describes a part or accessory, creating a new, logical compound where the meaning is essentially "the strip belonging to a shoe".