The word 癫痫 (diānxián, meaning "epilepsy") is formed by combining two characters, each depicting a key aspect of the condition. The first character, 癫 (diān), conveys a state of mental derangement or frenzy, capturing the altered consciousness often associated with seizures. The second, 痫 (xián), specifically denotes the physical convulsions or spasms. Together, they create a composite clinical picture by merging the characteristic mental and motor manifestations into a single, diagnostically evocative term.