The Chinese word **截止 (jiézhǐ)**, meaning "to end" or "the deadline," is a compound word formed by combining two characters with related meanings. The first character, **截 (jié)**, originally meant "to cut off" or "to intercept," implying a decisive break. The second character, **止 (zhǐ)**, means "to stop" or "to cease." When combined, they create a verb that emphasizes the act of bringing something to a definitive halt or cut-off point, often used administratively for deadlines, closing dates, or termination points, where the sense of "截" reinforces the finality of the "止."