The word 枯槁 is formed by combining two characters that each convey dryness: 枯 consists of the semantic component 木 (wood) and the phonetic component 古, meaning dry or withered wood, while 槁 similarly uses 木 as the semantic component and 高 as the phonetic, meaning dried out or decayed. Together, they create a compound where both characters contribute similar meanings to emphasize a state of thorough desiccation or withering.