The word 摔倒 is formed by combining two characters that each contribute a clear aspect of the overall action. The first character, 摔, primarily means "to throw down" or "to fall", emphasizing the motion of the drop itself. The second character, 倒, means "to topple over" or "to collapse", capturing the final state of lying prostrate. Together, they sequentially depict the complete event: the act of tumbling (摔) leading to the result of being down (倒), creating a vivid, cause-and-effect image of a person or object falling to the ground.