The word 不管 is formed through a logical and metaphorical combination of its two component characters: 不 (bù), meaning "not", and 管 (guǎn), whose core meaning is "to manage", "to control", or "to be in charge of". The formation hinges on extending the meaning of 管 from physical administration or control over something to the abstract notion of caring about or taking into consideration. When 不 is placed before it, the compound literally negates that act of consideration, creating the conceptual sense of "not managing/controlling [the following conditions]", which naturally evolved into its functional meaning of "regardless of" or "no matter". Thus, the term is built by taking a verb of control, abstracting its meaning to concern, and then negating it to express dismissal of specific factors or circumstances.