The word 初恋 (chūliàn), meaning "first love", is formed by directly combining two conceptual building blocks: 初 (chū), which carries the meaning of "first", "initial", or "beginning", with 恋 (liàn), which signifies "love", "romantic attachment", or "to have tender feelings for". It is a perfectly literal and evocative conceptual union, where the notion of "first" is seamlessly attached to the notion of "love", creating a single, resonant idea that captures the unique and foundational experience of one's initial encounter with romantic affection.