The Chinese word 污点 (wūdiǎn) is a compound noun formed through a straightforward semantic combination of its two constituent characters: 污 (wū), meaning "dirt", "stain", or "filth", and 点 (diǎn), meaning "dot", "spot", or "small mark". Literally, it translates to "a dirty spot" or "a stain". This literal meaning is then extended metaphorically to describe an abstract blemish on a person's record, reputation, or character, such as a moral flaw, a criminal record, or a shameful incident, effectively conceptualizing a figurative "mark of disgrace" in the same way a physical stain mars a clean surface.