The word 聊天 is formed by combining the character 聊, which originally meant "to rely upon" but evolved to mean "to chat" or "to gossip", with the character 天, meaning "sky" or "day". It literally reads as "chat sky", and its formation is a vivid, metaphorical expression. It captures the image of leisurely, informal conversation that is as expansive and unstructured as the sky itself, the kind of passing time where talk might roam from everyday matters to trivialities, much like gazing at the clouds. Thus, the term figuratively represents the act of casual chatting or having a relaxed talk.