The word "架子" is formed through the combination of the character "架", which denotes a framework, support, or the act of placing something upon a structure (like a shelf or rack), and the character "子", a common suffix used to form nouns that often indicates a concrete object or tool. Together, they create a literal meaning of a physical frame or scaffold, such as a bookshelf or an easel. This concrete concept then extends metaphorically to abstract notions of an underlying structure, a person's affected demeanor, or an air of pretentiousness, as these abstractions are conceptually framed as a kind of supportive but often unnecessary or showy skeleton upon which appearance or attitude is displayed.