The word 演习 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core meaning to create a new, unified concept. The first character, 演 (yǎn), primarily carries the sense of "to perform" or "to develop". The second character, 习 (xí), means "to practice" or "to drill". When joined, the combination progresses logically from the idea of individual practice to a coordinated performance of that practice, resulting in the meaning of a "maneuver" or "exercise", such as a military or safety drill, where procedures are acted out in a simulated, performative manner.