The word 帐篷 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a key aspect of the final concept. The first character, 帐 (zhàng), originally refers to a curtain, canopy, or something made of fabric that forms an enclosure. The second character, 篷 (péng), refers to a covering, often made of matting, rush, or cloth, as on a boat or carriage. When paired, they logically compound to mean a "fabric enclosure covering", that is, a tent, where 帐 provides the notion of a textile shelter and 篷 reinforces the idea of a protective covering overhead.