The word "锦标赛" is formed from three characters: 锦, which in this context denotes a prize or trophy, derived from its original meaning of "brocade" to imply something valuable; 标, meaning "mark" or "standard", indicating the goal or criterion of the competition; and 赛, meaning "contest". Combined, they literally represent a contest for a prized standard, conveying the meaning of "championship" or "tournament".