The word "苹果核" is formed by combining "苹果", meaning apple, and "核", meaning core. "苹果" itself consists of "苹", a character used in plant-related terms, and "果", meaning fruit. "核" refers to the inner seed-containing part of a fruit. Together, "苹果" modifies "核" to specify the core of an apple, resulting in a compound noun that literally translates to "apple core".