The word 注视 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core visual-conceptual idea to create a unified meaning. The first character, 注 (zhù), originally depicted the idea of pouring water or concentrating a flow, which evolved to convey the sense of focusing one's attention like a stream directed at a single point. The second character, 视 (shì), is constructed from components meaning "to see" and an element related to altars or displays, fundamentally representing the act of looking or observing. When merged, the compound 注视 metaphorically paints the picture of "pouring one's sight upon" something, effectively meaning to gaze fixedly or to watch with concentrated attention.