The word 纪念 is formed by combining two characters that each contribute a layer of meaning to create a unified concept. The first character, 纪 (jì), carries the original sense of recording or disciplining order, often implying the act of noting down or marking a significant thread of events. The second character, 念 (niàn), means to think of, to recall, or to cherish in mind. When fused, 纪 acts as the outward, structured action, the act of commemorating, while 念 provides the inward, emotional component of remembrance. Together, they create the holistic idea of "to commemorate", which is the active preservation of memory through ceremony, object, or thought, perfectly blending the concrete act with the abstract feeling.