The word 环节 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core visual and conceptual idea: 环 (huán), meaning "ring" or "loop", and 节 (jié), meaning "joint", "node", or "segment". Together, they create a compound that metaphorically represents a "link in a chain" or a "segment in a series". The formation visualizes a structure where individual, ring-like units are connected at their joints, forming a continuous sequence, thus conceptually representing an essential stage, part, or connecting point within a larger process or system.