The word 结交 (jiéjiāo) is a compound verb formed by combining two individual characters, each with related meanings, to create a new, more specific concept. The first character, 结 (jié), means "to tie," "to knot," or "to form," implying the act of establishing a connection. The second character, 交 (jiāo), means "to associate," "to interact," or "to deliver." When paired, they create a metaphorical meaning where 结 acts on 交; thus, the word literally means "to form an association," and by extension, "to make friends with" or "to cultivate a friendship," emphasizing the active process of initiating and building a social bond.