The word "黯淡" is formed by combining the character "黯", which means dark or dim, derived from the semantic component "黑" (black), and "淡", which means faint or pale, derived from the semantic component "水" (water) suggesting thinness or weakness. Together, they create a compound where both characters reinforce the concept of a lack of light or brightness, resulting in a meaning of dim, gloomy, or lackluster.