The Chinese term **国务卿 (Guówùqīng)** for "Secretary of State" is a compound word formed through semantic construction: **国 (guó)** means "state" or "country," **务 (wù)** means "affairs" or "duties," and **卿 (qīng)** is a classical term for a high-ranking minister or official. Combined, the term literally translates to "**state affairs minister**," creating a direct equivalent to the English title by specifying an official who handles national (state) affairs. It is a modern repurposing of **卿**, an ancient bureaucratic title, to designate a specific cabinet-level role in foreign affairs, showcasing how Chinese often forms new terms by logically assembling meaningful historical characters.