The word "哽噎" is formed by combining two characters, "哽" and "噎", each contributing related meanings centered on throat obstruction. "哽" primarily denotes choking, often from emotion or a lump in the throat, while "噎" specifically refers to choking due to physical blockage, such as from food or breath. Their conjunction creates a compound that reinforces the overall sense of choking, used to describe either emotional sobbing or physical swallowing difficulty.