The word 判断 (pànduàn), meaning "to judge" or "to determine", is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a crucial aspect of the concept. The first character, 判 (pàn), carries the core idea of separation or distinction, as in dividing or differentiating between options. The second character, 断 (duàn), means to cut or sever, implying a decisive conclusion or a final resolution. Together, they create a vivid conceptual sequence: first, one separates and analyzes the elements (判), and then one cuts through the ambiguity to arrive at a definitive decision (断), perfectly encapsulating the complete process of forming a judgment.