The Chinese word 沉思 (chénsī), meaning "to contemplate deeply" or "to meditate," is a compound word formed through semantic combination. Its first character, 沉 (chén), carries meanings of "to sink," "deep," or "heavy," evoking a sense of depth or immersion. The second character, 思 (sī), means "to think" or "thought." When combined, they create a metaphorical and vivid concept where one's thinking "sinks down" or becomes profoundly deep, effectively describing a state of profound, absorbed, and inward-focused reflection. This structure is a classic example of how Chinese compounds often merge two meaningful components to express a nuanced, abstract idea.