The Chinese word **前辈 (qiánbèi)**, meaning "senior," "elder," or "predecessor," is a compound noun formed through semantic combination. The first character **前 (qián)** means "front," "before," or "ahead," while the second character **辈 (bèi)** signifies "generation" or "lifetime." Literally, it means "those in the front generations," creating a spatial-temporal metaphor where people from earlier times or with more experience are conceptually positioned ahead. This formation elegantly encodes the cultural value of respect for elders and those who have paved the way in a profession, field, or life path.