The word 如释重负 is formed by sequentially combining the characters 如 (meaning "like" or "as if"), 释 (meaning "to release" or "unload"), 重 (meaning "heavy"), and 负 (meaning "burden" or "load"); these characters are directly assembled to produce the literal sense of "as if released from a heavy burden", which conveys the feeling of relief after a stress or obligation is removed.