The word "主义" is formed through a conceptual fusion where the first character "主" (zhǔ), meaning "master", "primary", or "to advocate", establishes the core or ruling principle. The second character "义" (yì), meaning "meaning", "righteousness", or "doctrine", provides the substance or the formulated ideology. Together, they create a single, indivisible concept denoting an organized system of thought, belief, or practice, like a "doctrine" or "-ism", where the "primary meaning" becomes a guiding tenet.