The word 苗条 (miáotiáo) is formed through a disyllabic compounding process where two semantically similar characters combine to create a single, more vivid meaning. The character 苗 (miáo) primarily means "seedling" or "young plant", evoking an image of something slender, tender, and growing healthily. The character 条 (tiáo) means "strip", "twig", or "long and narrow shape", reinforcing the notion of a thin, elongated form. When paired, they create a metaphorical and harmonious binome that describes a human figure, specifically a slender, graceful, and well-proportioned physique, with a more nuanced and aesthetically positive connotation than either character alone.