The word "拷问" is a compound formed by combining two characters: "拷" (kǎo), which originally means to beat or torture, often in the context of extracting information through physical duress, and "问" (wèn), which means to ask or interrogate. Together, they create a term that literally means "to interrogate under torture", but in modern usage, it has evolved into a powerful metaphor for any form of severe, rigorous, and relentless questioning, whether directed at others or as an introspective, self-critical examination of one's own conscience, beliefs, or motives.