The Chinese word 流畅 (liúchàng) is a compound formed by combining two independent characters, each contributing to the overall meaning. The first character, 流 (liú), means "to flow" or "flowing", as in water or a current. The second character, 畅 (chàng), means "smooth", "unimpeded", or "free". When combined, they create a metaphorical concept where the quality of smooth, unimpeded movement is applied abstractly. Thus, 流畅 literally means "flowing smoothly" and is used to describe things like fluent speech, smooth writing, or seamless performance, where actions or processes proceed without interruption or hesitation.