The word **顺风 (shùnfēng)** is a Chinese compound formed through lexical combination, where two independent characters, each with their own meaning, are joined to create a new semantic unit. The first character, **顺 (shùn)**, means "to follow," "along with," or "favorable," while the second, **风 (fēng)**, means "wind." Literally, the term means "following the wind" or "favorable wind," historically referring to advantageous sailing conditions. Through semantic extension, it has evolved into a common metaphor for any endeavor that proceeds smoothly, without hindrance, or with favorable circumstances, as seen in its use in idioms like "一路顺风" (bon voyage) and modern terms like "顺风车" (ride-sharing, literally "favorable-wind car").