The Chinese word "枪支" is formed by combining the character "枪", which means "gun" or "firearm", with the character "支", a measure word commonly used for long, thin objects like rods or branches. This juxtaposition creates a compound where "支" categorizes and quantifies the noun, resulting in a term that broadly refers to firearms as a general class. The pairing leverages the semantic essence of "枪" with the classificatory function of "支" to convey the concept of guns in a cohesive and standardized manner, typical of Chinese compound formation that often integrates meaningful elements for clarity and specificity.