The word 小组 is formed by combining two independent characters, each contributing its core meaning to create a new, composite concept. The first character, 小 (xiǎo), carries the fundamental meaning of "small" or "little". The second character, 组 (zǔ), conveys the idea of a "group", "team", or "to organize". By placing them together, the concept is constructed directly and visually: a "small group". This formation is a straightforward semantic synthesis, where the meaning of the whole is a direct combination of the meanings of its parts.