The word 结束 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a related action to create a single abstract concept. The first character, 结 (jié), originally depicts tying a knot or fastening something together. The second, 束 (shù), pictorially represents bundling or binding objects with rope. When combined, their literal meanings of "tying" and "binding" merge into a powerful metaphor for bringing matters to a close, as one ties up loose ends and bundles a task into a completed state, hence meaning "to end" or "to conclude".