The word 扮演 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core action to create a unified concept. The first character, 扮 (bàn), carries the meaning of dressing up or disguising oneself. The second, 演 (yǎn), means to perform, develop, or elaborate. When merged, the compound visually and conceptually layers the act of taking on an appearance (扮) directly onto the act of performing or enacting (演), resulting in the integrated meaning "to play a role" or "to portray", where the external transformation and the internal performance are fused into a single activity.