The word 收入 is formed through the logical combination of two independent characters, each contributing its core meaning to create a new concept. The first character, 收 (shōu), carries the fundamental idea of "to gather", "to collect", or "to receive". The second character, 入 (rù), embodies the concept of "to enter" or "to come in". When placed together, they visually and conceptually depict the process or result of what is collected and comes in, naturally arriving at the meaning of "income" or "revenue", that which is received and enters one's possession.