The Chinese word 匕首 (bǐshǒu), meaning "dagger", is formed through a combination of pictographic and semantic elements. The character 匕 originally depicted an ancient spoon or ladle but, due to its shape, later came to represent a short, bladed weapon. The second character, 首 (shǒu), means "head", symbolizing the dagger's function as a weapon aimed at a vital target. Together, 匕首 creates a compound word where the first component indicates the object's form (a short blade), and the second reinforces its purpose, resulting in a term that vividly denotes a small, handheld stabbing weapon.