The word 项目 is formed through the conceptual blending of its two constituent characters: 项, which originally meant the nape of the neck but evolved to signify a major, outlined "item" or "entry", and 目, meaning "eye" but extended to mean a detailed "listing" or "catalog". Together, they create a metaphorical image where a major outlined entry (项) is broken down into its detailed, listed components (目), thus forming the modern concept of a "project", a defined undertaking comprised of specific, enumerated tasks or sub-items.