The Chinese word 数码 (shùmǎ), meaning "digital", is a compound word formed by combining two individual characters, each contributing a core concept: 数 (shù) means "number" or "digit", and 码 (mǎ) means "code" or "symbol". Together, they logically combine to represent the idea of "numerical codes" or "coded numbers", which is the fundamental principle of digital technology, where information is processed and stored as discrete numerical data. This formation follows a common pattern in Chinese where two related semantic elements are joined to create a new, more specific modern term, effectively translating and conceptualizing the foreign technological notion of "digital".