The word 荣誉 (róngyù) is formed through the classical Chinese method of combining two independent, synonymous characters to create a single, reinforced abstract concept. The character 荣 originally pictorially represented flourishing trees or flowers, evolving to mean "glory" or "flourishing honor", while 誉 means "praise" or "reputation". By placing them side-by-side, the compound word synthesizes these overlapping ideas, external glory and esteemed praise, into a unified, more profound notion of "honor" that is both the objective state of being honored and the subjective feeling of prestige, resulting in a meaning greater than the sum of its parts.