The word 精英 is formed through a classical conceptual blend where 精, meaning "essence" or "refined", combines with 英, meaning "flower" or "excellence". Together, they create a powerful metaphor comparing the finest, most outstanding individuals within a group to the essential, purified extract or the blossoming peak of something, akin to "the cream of the crop" or "the flower of excellence". This formation embodies the idea of a select, high-quality pinnacle drawn from a broader substance or population.