The word 深刻 is formed through the semantic combination of its two constituent characters: 深 (shēn), meaning "deep", and 刻 (kè), meaning "carve" or "engrave". Together, they create a compound where the literal idea of deep carving is extended metaphorically to convey that something, such as a thought, impression, or insight, is profoundly penetrating or intensely memorable, as if etched deeply into the mind or essence. This formation relies on the conceptual fusion where 深 emphasizes depth and 刻 adds a sense of permanence or sharp impact, resulting in a term that expresses depth and lasting significance without relying on grammatical structures.