The word 教训 is formed through a conceptual fusion where the first character 教 (jiāo/jiào), meaning "to teach" or "instruction", is paired with the second character 训 (xùn), meaning "to admonish", "to train", or "a lesson". It does not simply combine two similar ideas but creates a new, layered concept where formal or instructive teaching (教) merges with the more corrective, experiential, and often harsh process of learning from a mistake or a reprimand (训). The result is a single term that encapsulates the idea of a "lesson" gained not from passive study, but specifically from being corrected, often through a negative experience or a scolding, thereby blending the act of teaching with the consequence that solidifies the learning.