The word 折腾 (zhēteng) is formed through a vivid conceptual blending of its two component characters: 折, which depicts the action of breaking or bending something with an axe (suggesting disruption, change, or folding), and 腾, which conveys the image of a horse leaping over rising steam (implying vigorous motion or churning activity). Combined, they create a dynamic, almost kinetic impression of restless, repeated, and often fruitless activity, like repeatedly bending something back and forth or churning something up, which perfectly captures the word's core meanings of fussing,折腾, or折腾.