The word 作曲家 (zuòqǔjiā), meaning "composer," is a logically constructed compound noun formed by combining the verb-object phrase 作曲 (zuòqǔ – "to compose music," literally "create melody") with the suffix 家 (jiā), which denotes a specialist or professional in a particular field. Thus, the entire term translates literally as "a professional who creates music," where 作 (zuò) means "to make," 曲 (qǔ) means "tune" or "music," and 家 (jiā) signifies "expert," systematically building the meaning from its core action to the person who performs it.