The Chinese word 青春期 (qīngchūnqī), meaning "adolescence" or "puberty", is a compound formed through semantic combination: 青春 means "youth" or "the springtime of life" (with 青 qīng implying "green/vibrant" and 春 chūn meaning "spring"), and 期 means "period" or "stage". Thus, the term literally translates to "the period of youth", specifically denoting the developmental stage between childhood and adulthood. It is a modern, conceptual compound where both morphemes contribute directly to the overall meaning.