The Chinese word 共鸣 (gòngmíng) is a compound term formed by combining two characters: 共 (gòng), meaning "together" or "shared", and 鸣 (míng), meaning "to sound" or "to resonate" (as in a bird's cry or a ringing sound). Literally, it describes the physical phenomenon of resonance, where one vibrating object causes another to vibrate at the same frequency. Figuratively and most commonly, the combined term extends this physical concept to the human experience, representing a "sympathetic response" or "emotional resonance", the idea that thoughts, feelings, or artistic expressions can strike a shared chord and evoke a deep, mutual understanding within others, much like objects vibrating in harmony.