The word 评估 is formed by combining two independent characters, each carrying a related core meaning, into a single conceptual unit. The first character, 评 (píng), fundamentally means "to judge" or "to comment", introducing the notion of analysis and critique. It is paired with 估 (gū), which means "to estimate" or "to appraise", bringing in the dimension of measuring value or quantity. Their combination is not merely additive but synergistic, merging the ideas of qualitative judgment and quantitative estimation to create the comprehensive meaning of "to evaluate" or "to assess". This formation follows the pervasive Chinese principle of constructing compound words by semantically aligning characters to produce a more precise and nuanced concept than either could convey alone.