The Chinese word "水龙头" (shuǐlóngtóu), meaning "tap" or "faucet," is a compound noun formed through semantic combination: "水" (shuǐ) means "water," "龙" (lóng) means "dragon," and "头" (tóu) means "head." It literally translates to "water dragon head," a metaphorical term originating from the ornate, dragon-headed spouts used in traditional Chinese architecture and fountains, where water would flow from the dragon's mouth; over time, the term was semantically extended to refer to modern metal faucets, preserving the imagery of a controlling "head" or source from which water emerges.