The word 耽误 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a layer of meaning that fuses into a single concept. The first character, 耽, originally depicted a heavy earring, evoking a sense of being weighed down, delayed, or overly indulgent in something. The second character, 误, means mistake or error. When combined, they conceptually blend the idea of being held up or delayed (耽) with the resulting negative consequence of that delay, a missed opportunity, fault, or error (误). Thus, the compound inherently means not just to delay, but to delay to the point of causing a mishap or missing something.