The word "司空见惯" is formed from a historical anecdote during the Tang Dynasty, where poet Liu Yuxi, upon reading Li Shen's poem depicting a lavish banquet, remarked that such scenes were routine for a high-ranking official titled "司空" (Sikong), meaning "Minister of Works". The phrase literally combines "司空" (the official), "见" (to see), and "惯" (accustomed) to create an idiom meaning something is so frequently seen that it is considered ordinary.