The term “etymology” originates from the Greek word etimologia, meaning “true speech” or “the true meaning of a word.” In its common understanding, etymology, a branch of historical linguistics, studies the history of words and their origins — the original forms and meanings that have become obscured in contemporary language. Therefore, the study of etymology is a serious scholarly pursuit, not one that can be carried out spontaneously or based solely on subjective speculation. It requires researchers to apply rigorous scientific methods built upon well-defined principles. It can be said that few people devote themselves to etymological research; even among those who do, their work often remains intermittent or fragmented. Scholar An Chi is a rare exception — he has devoted a long period of his life to tracing the origins of words, a pursuit he fondly calls “wandering in the land of words.” Yet, behind that seemingly playful phrase lies a spirit of methodical and disciplined inquiry, never indulging in arbitrary or purely subjective reasoning.