The word 连续 is formed by combining two independent characters, each contributing a layer of meaning that merges into a single, more specific concept. The first character, 连, carries the core idea of "connecting" or "linking" things together. The second character, 续, adds the essential notion of "continuing" or "extending in sequence". When placed side-by-side, their individual meanings fuse to create the holistic idea of an unbroken connection or an uninterrupted succession, where one instance, event, or state is directly linked to and follows another without a gap.