The word 优雅 is formed through the conceptual fusion of two independent characters, each contributing a layer of meaning to create a nuanced whole. The first character, 优 (yōu), carries the fundamental sense of "excellent", "superior", or "abundant", suggesting a high quality or virtue. It is combined with 雅 (yǎ), which embodies the ideas of "proper", "refined", and "cultivated elegance", often with a classical or dignified connotation. Their combination is not merely additive but synergistic, where "excellence" (优) is specifically filtered through and elevated by a lens of "cultivated refinement" (雅), resulting in the integrated concept of "elegance", a graceful, polished, and aesthetically superior poise.