The word "顺序" is formed through a classic Chinese compound structure where two independent, meaningful characters are combined to create a new, specific concept. The first character, 顺 (shùn), carries the core idea of "following", "along", or "in smooth sequence". The second character, 序 (xù), intrinsically means "order", "arrangement", or "sequence". When placed together, they form a coordinative compound where each component reinforces and clarifies the other; 顺 describes the manner (smoothly following), and 序 defines the domain (an ordered arrangement), resulting in the combined meaning of "proper sequence" or "the order in which things follow one another".