The Chinese word "原先" is formed by combining two characters: "原", which conveys the idea of "original" or "source", and "先", which denotes "first" or "earlier in time". Together, these characters merge to create a compound word that emphasizes the concept of something being in its initial or prior state, effectively meaning "originally" or "formerly". This formation relies on the semantic reinforcement of both components, where each character contributes to a nuanced sense of precedence and authenticity, resulting in a term that refers to the way things were at the beginning or before any changes occurred.