The word 入伙 (rùhuǒ) is formed by combining the character 入 (rù), meaning "to enter" or "join", with 伙 (huǒ), which originally denoted a cooking fire or hearth and by extension came to mean "companions" or "a partnership", as those who share a fire. Thus, the compound literally evokes the image of "entering the circle around the fire" and metaphorically means to join a group, partnership, or venture, such as becoming a member of a business, team, or even a group of friends sharing a meal.