The word 升起 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a related action to create a unified concept. 升 (shēng) primarily means "to rise" or "to ascend", often implying a vertical lift. 起 (qǐ) means "to rise up" or "to begin", focusing on the initiation of movement from a lower state. Together, they merge into a single verb that vividly depicts the process of something, like the sun or a flag, beginning its ascent and moving upward, with the second character intensifying and completing the action initiated by the first.