The Chinese word 死胡同 (sǐhútòng), meaning "dead end" or "blind alley", is a compound word formed through metaphorical extension: 死 (sǐ) literally means "dead", implying a lack of life or movement; 胡同 (hútòng) is a loanword from Mongolian (via Yuan Dynasty Beijing) meaning "alley" or "lane". Combined, the term paints a vivid image of an alley that is "dead", that is, closed off at one end and thus impassable, which has been extended metaphorically to describe any situation offering no progress or way out.