The word 参与 (cānyù) is formed through the complementary combination of two independent characters, each contributing a core aspect of the overall meaning. The first character, 参 (cān), carries the fundamental idea of "joining" or "entering into". The second character, 与 (yù), contributes the notion of "taking part in" or "being involved with". When placed together, their meanings fuse and reinforce one another to create the single, unified concept of "to participate" or "to be involved in", where the action is one of actively entering into and sharing in an activity or event.