The word 捐赠 is formed through the logical combination of two individual characters, each contributing a key aspect to the unified concept. The first character, 捐 (juān), carries the core idea of "to relinquish" or "to contribute", often implying a giving up of something one owns. The second character, 赠 (zèng), means "to give as a gift" or "to present". When paired, they reinforce and specify each other: the act is one of giving (赠) something by way of contribution or relinquishment (捐), together crystallizing into the specific meaning of "to donate", a formal, voluntary giving, typically for a charitable or public purpose.