The Chinese word 乞丐 (qǐgài), meaning "beggar", is formed through a process of semantic compounding, where two characters with similar meanings are combined to reinforce and specify a single concept. The first character, 乞 (qǐ), independently means "to beg" or "to request", while the second, 丐 (gài), carries the ancient and core meaning of "to beg" or "a beggar". By pairing these two synonyms, the compound word creates a more concrete and recognizable noun, solidifying the meaning of a person who makes a living by begging, with the repetition enhancing the semantic weight and clarity of the term.