The Chinese word 替罪羊 is composed of three characters: 替 meaning 'to substitute,' 罪 meaning 'sin' or 'crime,' and 羊 meaning 'goat' or 'sheep.' Together, they form the term for 'scapegoat,' directly illustrating the concept of a substitute that bears the blame for others' sins, originating from ancient practices where a goat was symbolically laden with sins and sacrificed or sent away to absolve the community.