The Chinese word 捏造 (niēzào, meaning "to fabricate" or "to concoct") is a compound verb formed through the combination of two meaningful characters: 捏 (niē), which literally means "to knead" or "to mold with the fingers", and 造 (zào), which means "to make" or "to create". Together, they create a vivid metaphorical meaning: the act of "kneading into existence" or "handcrafting" a false story, much like physically shaping something from pliable material, thereby emphasizing the deliberate, artificial, and often deceptive nature of inventing misinformation or rumors.