The word 尝试 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a related meaning to create a new, unified concept. The first character, 尝, originally means "to taste" or "to sample", conveying a sense of initial, sensory experience. The second, 试, means "to test" or "to try out", implying an intentional act of experimentation. When joined, the metaphor of physically tasting something to judge it evolves into the broader, abstract idea of "to attempt" or "to try", where one samples an action or idea to test its feasibility or outcome.