The word 项链 (xiàngliàn, meaning necklace) is formed by directly combining two meaningful characters: 项 (xiàng), which signifies the nape or neck, and 链 (liàn), which means chain or link. The concept is created through this straightforward visual and functional association, it is literally a "neck-chain", where the first component identifies the body part and the second describes the object that adorns it.