The word "练习" is formed through the logical combination of two independent characters, each contributing its core meaning to create a new, composite concept. The first character, "练", fundamentally means to practice or drill, often with a sense of refining a skill through repetition, like tempering silk or metal. The second, "习", carries the ancient idea of a young bird repeatedly flapping its wings, thus meaning to learn, rehearse, or become familiar through repetition. When combined, "练习" conceptually merges the act of deliberate, skillful drilling ("练") with the process of habitual learning and rehearsal ("习") to express the holistic idea of "to practice" or "exercise".