The word 心灵 is formed by the conceptual fusion of two fundamental ideas: 心 (xīn), meaning "heart", representing the physical and emotional core, the seat of feeling and intention; and 灵 (líng), meaning "spirit" or "animating essence", representing intelligence, awareness, vitality, and the transcendent aspect of consciousness. Their combination does not merely list attributes but creates a new, integrated concept, the inner, intelligent, and spiritual heart-mind, encompassing the totality of one's emotional depth, conscious thought, and moral sensibility as a single, animate entity. It is the holistic and alive core of a person's being.