The word 鸿鹄 is formed by combining two characters, each representing a type of large bird: 鸿 incorporates the water radical 氵 to associate it with aquatic habitats, historically referring to a wild goose or swan, while 鹄 includes the bird radical 鸟 to explicitly denote a swan or similar bird. Together, they create a compound term where both elements semantically reinforce the idea of a majestic waterfowl.