The Chinese term "内阁" (nèigé) for "cabinet" (as in a council of ministers) is a compound word formed through semantic combination: "内" (nèi) means "inner" or "inside", and "阁" (gé) historically refers to a "pavilion", "chamber", or "cabinet" (as in a room). The term originated in imperial China, denoting the "Inner Cabinet" or private chambers of the emperor where trusted advisors and senior officials convened. This concept was later adopted in the early 20th century as a loan translation for the Western parliamentary "cabinet", reflecting its role as the innermost, highest executive decision-making body within the government structure.