The word 获得 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core meaning that together create a new, more specific concept. The first character, 获 (huò), originally depicted catching a bird in a hand with the help of a hawk, thus conveying the idea of "capturing" or "reaping". The second character, 得 (dé), pictographically shows a hand taking a seashell (ancient currency), meaning "to obtain" or "to acquire". When paired, 获 emphasizes the action or process of securing something (often through effort), and 得 emphasizes the successful outcome of possession, resulting in the combined meaning "to gain, to acquire, to obtain".