The word "挖掘" is formed through the combination of two characters, each contributing a similar core meaning to create a unified, intensified concept. The first character, 挖, depicts the action of digging with a hand (扌) removing earth, while the second, 掘, also signifies digging or excavating, often with a sense of force or effort. They are placed side-by-side not as subject and verb, but as synonymous elements that reinforce and specify each other, merging into a single, cohesive idea that means "to excavate" or "to unearth", with a nuance of thorough, deliberate digging.