The Chinese word **标本** (biāoběn) is a compound term formed through the combination of two meaningful characters: **标** (biāo), which originally conveys the idea of a "mark," "sign," or "outward symptom," and **本** (běn), which means "root," "origin," or "fundamental cause." In traditional Chinese medical and philosophical contexts, these concepts were often paired to express the relationship between surface manifestations and their underlying sources. Over time, this conceptual pairing lexicalized into a single word, where the combined meaning evolved to signify a "sample," "specimen," or "model"—an object that serves as a marked or representative example (标) of its fundamental essence or original form (本). Thus, its formation exemplifies how Chinese compounds often create nuanced meanings by merging complementary or contrasting semantic elements.