The word "宣扬" is a compound verb formed through the combination of two semantically similar characters, each contributing to the overall meaning. The first character, "宣" (xuān), means "to declare", "to announce", or "to make public", focusing on the act of stating something openly. The second character, "扬" (yáng), means "to raise", "to lift up", or "to spread", emphasizing the action of propagating or elevating something to a wider audience. When combined, these parallel elements create a single, cohesive concept meaning "to publicize", "to propagate", or "to promote", specifically referring to the active and widespread communication of ideas, doctrines, or reputations. This formation follows a common pattern in Chinese where two near-synonyms are paired to reinforce and nuance the verb's meaning.