The word 配合 is formed by combining two individual characters, each contributing a core idea to create a new, unified concept. The first character, 配 (pèi), carries the fundamental meaning of "to match" or "to pair". The second character, 合 (hé), means "to combine", "to join", or "to close together". When merged, they produce a synergistic meaning that goes beyond a simple sum; it conceptually depicts the act of parts being matched and then joined together in a coordinated manner to function as a cohesive whole, hence conveying the sense of "to coordinate", "to cooperate", or "to work in concert".