The Chinese word **学历 (xué lì)** is a compound term formed by combining the character **学 (xué)**, meaning "study" or "learning," with the character **历 (lì)**, meaning "history," "record," or "curriculum vitae." Together, they create a nominal concept where **学** modifies **历** to specify the *type* of record—specifically, one's formal educational history and credentials. Thus, the term directly translates to and signifies "educational background" or "academic qualifications," referring to the officially recognized record of a person's schooling and degrees.