The Chinese word 羔羊 (gāoyáng), meaning "lamb", is a compound formed through semantic combination, where both constituent characters contribute related meanings to create a more specific term. The first character, 羔 (gāo), independently signifies a "young animal" or specifically a "lamb" or "kid". The second character, 羊 (yáng), is the general term for "sheep" or "goat". When combined, 羔 acts as a modifier that specifies the age or type, while 羊 provides the core category; thus, 羔羊 literally translates to "young-sheep", or more naturally, "lamb", resulting in a precise term that is clearer and more evocative than either character alone.