The word 信守 (xìnshǒu), meaning "to abide by" or "to keep (a promise)," is a compound formed through the combination of two independent, meaningful characters: 信 (xìn), which conveys "trust," "honesty," or "faith," and 守 (shǒu), which means "to guard," "to defend," or "to observe." Morphologically, it is a coordinative (or parallel) compound where both elements contribute thematically to create a unified, nuanced meaning—the concept of "guarding one's honesty" or "defending one's trustworthiness," which semantically merges into the act of faithfully adhering to a commitment or pledge.