The word 衬衣 (chènyī), meaning "shirt", is formed by combining two meaningful characters to create a new, specific concept. The first character, 衬 (chèn), carries the idea of a lining or an underlayer. The second, 衣 (yī), is the general word for clothing or garment. Together, they literally describe a "lining garment" or an item of clothing designed to be worn beneath something else, like a jacket or coat, which accurately reflects the traditional function and placement of a shirt within layered attire.