The Chinese word **配偶 (pèi'ǒu)**, meaning "spouse," is a compound noun formed through the combination of two semantically related characters: **配 (pèi)**, which carries connotations of matching, joining, or pairing, and **偶 (ǒu)**, which means a mate, partner, or counterpart. Together, they create a formal and gender-neutral term that conceptually signifies a matched pair or a joined couple, specifically in the context of marriage. This formation follows a common pattern in Mandarin where two characters with complementary meanings are combined to produce a precise and often more abstract compound word.