The Chinese word 消遣 is a compound formed by combining two characters, each contributing to its overall meaning: 消 (xiāo) means "to dispel, eliminate, or pass (time)", and 遣 (qiǎn) means "to send away or dispatch". Together, they create a metaphorical concept of "sending away" or "dispelling" one's time, particularly in the sense of pastime or leisure activity done to while away hours pleasantly and relieve boredom. Thus, the formation is a coordinative compound where both elements semantically converge to express the idea of engaging in recreation to make time pass enjoyably.