The word 暗示 is formed by combining two characters: 暗 (àn), which conveys meanings of darkness, hiddenness, or obscurity, and 示 (shì), which means to show, indicate, or display. The formation conceptually merges the idea of "not being openly shown" with the act of "showing", creating a composite meaning where a message is indicated in a concealed or indirect manner. Thus, the entire word naturally embodies the concept of "hinting" or "implying", a showing that is kept in the shadows.