The word 讨论 (tǎolùn), meaning "to discuss", is formed by combining two individual characters, each contributing a core conceptual piece to the whole idea. The first character, 讨 (tǎo), carries the notion of probing, demanding, or investigating an issue. The second, 论 (lùn), brings the concept of analysis, discourse, or formal deliberation. Together, they conceptually merge into the process of "investigating-through-discourse", where people examine a topic by exchanging and analyzing ideas, building the combined meaning we understand as "discussion".