The word 知识 (zhīshi, "knowledge") is formed through semantic compounding, where two independent characters, each with related meanings, combine to create a new, unified concept. The first character, 知 (zhī), originally depicted an arrow and a mouth, conveying the core idea of "to know" or "to perceive" acutely and directly. The second, 识 (shí), combines a speech element with a marker, emphasizing "to recognize", "to distinguish", or "to record". When paired, their meanings synthesize and elevate: 知 provides the notion of immediate awareness or acquiring information, while 识 adds the dimension of deeper understanding, discrimination, and retained familiarity. Thus, the compound transcends a simple sum to represent the integrated whole of "knowledge", encompassing both the act of knowing and the accumulated body of discernment and learning.