The word "临床" is formed through a vivid conceptual metaphor rooted in historical medical practice. It literally means "to approach the bed", directly originating from the traditional image of a physician physically going to a patient's bedside to observe and treat their illness. Over time, this concrete action of bedside care evolved into an abstract term encompassing all practical, patient-facing medical work, distinguishing hands-on treatment from pure theory. Thus, the entire field of direct medical practice is conceptually named after this foundational act of approaching the sickbed.