The word 敬礼 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core concept to create a unified meaning. The first character, 敬 (jìng), carries the essential idea of respect, reverence, or honor. The second character, 礼 (lǐ), embodies the concept of ritual, ceremony, or propriety. When fused, they do not merely list two ideas but synthesize them into a single, concrete action: the act of showing respect through a formal gesture or salute, perfectly capturing the notion of a "salute" or "to pay respects".