The word **委员 (wěiyuán)**, meaning "committee member" or "representative," is a compound formed by combining two characters: **委 (wěi)**, which carries the meaning of "to appoint," "to entrust," or "to delegate," and **员 (yuán)**, which signifies a "person" or "member." Thus, the term literally and conceptually denotes an **"appointed person"** or **"entrusted member,"** directly reflecting the role of someone who has been designated to a committee, council, or official body to carry out specific duties or responsibilities on behalf of a larger group or authority.