The word 都市 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a key aspect of the concept. The first character, 都 (dū), carries the ancient meaning of a capital city or major administrative center, implying political importance, size, and centrality. The second, 市 (shì), originally meant a market or commercial hub, contributing the idea of bustling trade, population concentration, and economic activity. Together, they semantically merge to evoke the complete, modern idea of a large, bustling metropolitan city where administrative centrality and commercial vitality are integrated.