The Chinese word 灰尘 (huīchén), meaning "dust" or "dirt", is a compound word formed through semantic combination, where two independent characters with related meanings are joined to create a more specific or reinforced concept. The first character, 灰 (huī), originally means "ash" or "grey powder", while the second, 尘 (chén), means "dust" or "dirt", often pictographically derived from the idea of "small soil" (小土). When combined, they create a single term that vividly encapsulates the idea of fine, particulate grime, with each character contributing its nuanced meaning to enhance the overall image of accumulated, airborne filth.