The word 住口 is formed by directly combining two characters to create a vivid, imperative image: 住 (zhù), meaning "to stop" or "cease", is placed before 口 (kǒu), meaning "mouth". It functions as a verbal command constructed literally from the concept of "stop your mouth", where the action (住) is applied to the object (口). This creates an immediate and forceful instruction, much like the English "shut up", by visually and conceptually commanding the cessation of speech at its physical source.