The word "循规蹈矩" is formed by combining two parallel verb-object constructions: "循规" (following the compass) and "蹈矩" (treading the square). The characters "循" and "蹈" both act as verbs meaning to follow or adhere to, while "规" and "矩" are nouns referring to the compass and carpenter's square, tools that symbolize rules and standards. The phrase literally depicts adhering to precise geometric instruments, and through this concrete imagery, it idiomatically conveys strict adherence to established rules or conventions.