The character 主人 is formed by combining two simpler characters into a single conceptual unit. The first part, 主, originated as a pictogram of a flame atop a lamp stand, representing something central, primary, or authoritative, the "main" thing. The second part, 人, is the straightforward pictogram for a person. When placed together, they create an ideographic compound where the "primary/central person" conceptually signifies the roles of master, owner, or host, directly illustrating the entity in a position of authority or centrality within a given context.