About
The word **便秘 (biànmì)** is formed through semantic compounding, where two characters combine to create a new meaning. The first character, **便 (biàn)**, here specifically means "stool" or "feces," while the second character, **秘 (mì)**, carries the meaning of "secret," "blocked," or "retained." Therefore, when combined, the term literally and vividly describes the condition of "blocked stool" or "retained feces," which directly corresponds to the medical condition of constipation. This formation is typical in Chinese, where two meaningful morphemes are joined to precisely define a physiological state.