The Chinese word **薄弱** (bóruò) is a compound adjective formed by combining two synonymous characters, each contributing to an overall meaning of weakness or insufficiency. The first character, **薄** (bó), originally means "thin" or "slight," connoting a lack of substance or depth, while the second character, **弱** (ruò), directly means "weak" or "feeble." When paired in this parallel structure, common in Chinese morphology, they reinforce and intensify each other's meaning, resulting in a term that describes something as fragile, vulnerable, or lacking in strength—whether referring to physical objects, abstract concepts (like defenses or foundations), or personal qualities. This formation exemplifies how Chinese frequently creates precise vocabulary by joining semantically related characters to produce nuanced, composite ideas.