The word 表达 is formed through the complementary combination of two meaningful characters: 表 (biǎo), which carries the core idea of "to show, to manifest, or to surface" something outward, and 达 (dá), which contributes the notion of "to reach, to arrive at, or to convey" to a target. Together, they conceptually merge into the single idea of causing an internal thought or feeling to be shown outwardly and to successfully reach or be communicated to another, thus forming the compound meaning "to express".