The Chinese word **围裙 (wéiqún)** for "apron" is a compound noun formed through semantic combination: the first character **围 (wéi)** means "to surround" or "to enclose," and the second character **裙 (qún)** means "skirt." Thus, the term literally describes a piece of clothing that *surrounds* the body like a *skirt*, functionally protecting one's clothes from spills and stains while working, typically in a kitchen or workshop.