The character 侮辱 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a layer of meaning to create a single powerful concept. The first character, 侮 (wǔ), carries the sense of disrespect, insult, or contempt from one person toward another. The second, 辱 (rǔ), means humiliation, disgrace, or shame inflicted upon someone. When placed together, they create a synergistic and intensifying compound where 侮 describes the act of showing contempt, and 辱 specifies the damaging result of that act, humiliation. Thus, the word visually and conceptually represents the full cycle of an affront: the active disrespect that causes the passive state of shame.