The Chinese word **请柬** (qǐngjiǎn), meaning "invitation card," is formed through a straightforward **verb-noun compound structure**: the first character **请** (qǐng) means "to invite" or "to request," functioning as the verb component that conveys the action, while the second character **柬** (jiǎn) is a classical term for a "card," "note," or "slip of paper," acting as the noun component that specifies the object. Together, they create a single lexical unit that literally translates to "invitation card," with the combination synthetically expressing the purpose and physical form of the item, typically used for formal written invitations to events like weddings or ceremonies.