The word "焦虑" (jiāolǜ, meaning "anxiety") is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a layer of visceral imagery to convey a state of mental distress. The first character, "焦", originally depicted a bird scorched by fire (灬), evoking a sense of burning urgency, dryness, and being consumed. The second, "虑", incorporates the idea of a heart (心) under the menacing pressure or threat of a tiger (虍), symbolizing worry and preoccupation. Together, they create a compound concept that merges the scorching, consuming heat of "焦" with the heart-pressed, predatory worry of "虑" to visually embody the heated, gnawing, and oppressive nature of anxious feeling.