The word 教父 is formed by combining two meaningful characters: 教, which conveys concepts of teaching, doctrine, or religion, and 父, which means father. Together, they create a metaphorical compound where the guiding, authoritative role of a father is applied to a sphere of teaching or faith, resulting in the concept of a "godfather", a foundational, patriarchal figure who provides spiritual or authoritative guidance within a specific system, much like a father provides within a family.