The Chinese word **后裔** (hòuyì) is a compound term formed by combining two semantically related characters: **后** (hòu), which primarily means "later," "after," or "descendants," and **裔** (yì), which specifically means "descendants," "posterity," or "lineage." Together, they create a tautological or reinforcing compound where both elements emphasize the core meaning of "offspring" or "descendants," specifically those coming down through generations, often carrying a connotation of a lineage extending far back in time. Thus, the term **后裔** precisely denotes "later generations" or "descendants," particularly in a historical or ancestral context.