The word 交往 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core action to create a holistic concept. The first character, 交, depicts crossed legs or an intersection, conveying the idea of "crossing", "exchanging", or "intermingling" between entities. The second, 往, illustrates movement toward a specific point, meaning "to go toward" or "to proceed". When fused, they create a dynamic picture of mutual and reciprocal movement toward one another, a figurative back-and-forth, a social "coming and going" that naturally constitutes interaction, association, and the building of a relationship.