The word 故障 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a key aspect of the concept. The first character, 故 (gù), carries meanings related to an old incident, a reason, or something that has gone awry. The second character, 障 (zhàng), means a barrier, hindrance, or obstruction. When fused, they create a composite idea: an "old incident" or "original cause" that now acts as a "barrier" to normal function. Thus, the term visually and conceptually paints the picture of a breakdown or malfunction, an obstruction in a system stemming from a specific cause or failure.