The word 打交道 is formed through a vivid conceptual metaphor that combines a concrete action with an abstract social realm. The character 打 (dǎ), whose primary meaning is "to hit" or "to strike", is used here in an extended, abstract sense meaning "to engage in" or "to undertake". This is paired with 交道 (jiāodào), an ancient term literally meaning "the way of interaction" or "social intercourse", where 交 means "to exchange" and 道 means "way" or "path". Thus, the compound visually and conceptually fuses the idea of physically "striking" or "making contact" with the pathway of human relations, creating the unified meaning of "to have dealings with" or "to interact with".