The word 淘汰 is formed through the vivid combination of two characters, each contributing a layer of meaning to create a modern metaphorical concept. The first character, 淘, originally depicts the action of washing or rinsing in water to remove impurities, as in panning for gold. The second, 汰, carries the meaning of discarding, rejecting, or casting away. When fused, they evoke the powerful image of a process of natural or intentional selection, where the undesirable is "washed away and discarded", leaving only the fittest or most suitable behind. This conceptual blend perfectly captures the essence of being eliminated from a competition or rendered obsolete by progress.