The word 及时 is formed through a conceptual fusion of its two component characters: 及, which carries the core idea of "reaching" or "attaining", and 时, which means "time" or "the appropriate moment". Their combination does not merely stack meanings but creates a new, integrated concept where the action of "reaching" is directed precisely at the "opportune moment". Thus, the formation embodies the idea of an event or action perfectly coinciding with or arriving at the critical point in time, yielding the sense of "timely" or "without delay".