The word 线条 (xiàntiáo) is a compound noun formed by combining two characters with related meanings: 线 (xiàn), which means "line, thread, or wire", and 条 (tiáo), a classifier for long, thin, narrow objects that also carries the inherent meaning of "strip" or "slender item". Together, they create a more specific and nuanced term than either character alone, referring comprehensively to a "line" in a visual, artistic, or design context, emphasizing its quality, form, and contour, as in the lines of a drawing, a figure, or an architectural design. This formation follows a common pattern in Mandarin where two semantically similar characters are joined to define a concrete, abstract, or technical concept.