The word 旅游 is formed by combining two distinct but complementary characters, each contributing a core aspect of the modern concept. The first character, 旅 (lǚ), originally conveyed the idea of a group, brigade, or a purposeful journey, often with a sense of movement from one place to another. The second character, 游 (yóu), carries connotations of wandering, roaming, or moving about in a more leisurely, fluid, and recreational way, like swimming or meandering. When fused, 旅游 synthesizes these ideas: it represents the structured activity of traveling (旅) combined with the experience of sightseeing and leisure exploration (游), perfectly encapsulating the holistic act of tourism.