The Chinese word 冥想 (míngxiǎng, "meditation") is a compound formed through semantic combination: the first character 冥 (míng) conveys meanings of "deep," "profound," "dark," or "the underworld," suggesting a state of inward depth or tranquility, while the second character 想 (xiǎng) means "to think" or "to contemplate." Together, they create a conceptual blend meaning "deep contemplation" or "to think profoundly," capturing the essence of meditation as a practice of focused, inward mental reflection beyond ordinary thought. This formation follows a common modifier-modified structure in Chinese, where 冥 describes the nature or quality of the 想, resulting in a specific term for a focused mental exercise.