The word 清新 is formed by combining two independent characters, each contributing its core meaning to create a new, unified concept. The first character, 清 (qīng), carries the sense of "clear", "pure", or "clean", often associated with water or air. The second, 新 (xīn), means "new" or "fresh". Their combination is not merely additive but synergistic, where the purity of 清 merges with the vibrant novelty of 新 to evoke a holistic sensory impression, like the crisp, invigorating quality of a breeze after rain or a clean, modern aesthetic, that is greater than the sum of its parts.