The Chinese word 演变 (yǎnbiàn), meaning "evolution" or "to evolve," is a compound formed by combining two meaningful characters: 演 (yǎn), which carries connotations of developing, unfolding, or performing, suggesting a process that unfolds over time; and 变 (biàn), which means "to change" or "transform." Together, they create a semantic compound where 演 modifies the type of change indicated by 变, specifying it as a gradual, progressive, and often natural or historical process of development and transformation, rather than a sudden or singular alteration.