The word **食谱 (shípǔ)** is a compound noun formed by combining the character **食 (shí)**, meaning "food" or "to eat," with the character **谱 (pǔ)**, which denotes a "systematic record," "chart," or "manual." Together, they create a meaning that is more than the sum of its parts: a systematic guide or record for food, which translates directly to "recipe" or "cookbook." This formation follows a common grammatical structure in Mandarin where one character defines the category (food), and the other specifies its form or function (a systematic guide).