The word 忘恩负义 is formed by the sequential combination of four characters: 忘 (to forget), 恩 (kindness), 负 (to betray), and 义 (righteousness). The first pair, 忘恩, means "to forget kindness", and the second pair, 负义, means "to betray righteousness". When joined, these pairs create a fixed compound that literally and concretely expresses the concept of ingratitude and disloyalty.