The Chinese word **颜料** (yánliào), meaning "pigment" or "dye," is a compound noun formed through semantic combination. The first character, **颜** (yán), historically relates to the face, countenance, or appearance, and by extension carries the meaning of "color" (as in the color of one's face). The second character, **料** (liào), means "material" or "substance." Thus, the compound logically combines these ideas to signify the "substance for color" or the "material that gives color," accurately describing its function as coloring matter used in paints, inks, and dyes.