The Chinese word 幸福 (xìngfú), meaning "happiness" or "well-being", is formed through the combination of two ideographic characters, each with historical roots in depicting abstract concepts. The character 幸 originally derived from a pictograph of shackles, symbolizing escape from misfortune, thus evolving to represent "fortune" or "luck". The character 福 combines the radical 示 (associated with altars or divine matters) with 畐 (depicting a full vessel), conveying "blessing" or "prosperity" from spiritual abundance. Together, they merge the ideas of favorable circumstances (幸) and profound, blessed contentment (福), creating a holistic concept of enduring happiness that intertwines serendipity with fulfilled well-being.