The word 胶水 (jiāoshuǐ), meaning "glue", is a compound noun formed through a straightforward modifier-head (or attributive-head) structure. The first character, 胶 (jiāo), means "glue" or "adhesive", and acts as the modifier specifying the type. The second character, 水 (shuǐ), means "water" or "liquid", and acts as the head, indicating the substance's fundamental nature. Therefore, the term literally translates to "glue-water", succinctly describing a liquid adhesive, which historically and commonly has a water-based formulation. This logical combination creates a clear and functional word in modern Chinese.