The word 档案 (dàng'àn, meaning "files" or "archives") is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core idea related to systematic record-keeping. The first character, 档, originally referred to horizontal crosspieces or shelves (like in a framework), evoking the idea of categorized storage and classification. The second, 案, means a desk or, more specifically in a historical context, a table for reviewing official documents, thus conveying the concept of records or case files. Together, they create a composite image where documents (案) are organized and stored in a structured, shelved system (档), perfectly encapsulating the modern concept of an archive or a dossier.