The word 鉴定 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a key action to create a unified concept. The first character, 鉴, originally meant a bronze mirror and carries the sense of careful inspection, scrutiny, and reflection, of looking at something to assess its true nature. The second character, 定, means to settle, fix, or determine. When joined, the compound 鉴定 conceptually describes a complete, two-stage process: first, the detailed examination or appraisal (鉴) of an object, document, or situation, followed by the act of reaching and issuing a definitive, authoritative conclusion or judgment (定) based on that inspection.