The Chinese word 拜访 is formed by combining two individual characters, each contributing a layer of meaning to create a new, specific concept. The first character, 拜 (bài), originally depicts two hands offering a ritual gift, carrying the core meaning of showing respect or paying homage through a gesture like a bow. The second character, 访 (fǎng), is composed of a phonetic element and the "speech" radical, meaning to visit or call upon someone, often with the purpose of inquiry. When combined, 拜访 literally conveys the idea of "to visit with respect", forming a polite and formal compound word specifically for the act of paying a courteous call on someone, such as a superior, elder, or respected friend.