The word 冒犯 is formed by combining two characters that each contribute a vivid layer of imagery to create the overall concept. The first character, 冒, depicts something rising up or protruding forward, like steam from a pot or a head wearing a hat, conveying a sense of overstepping or breaching. The second, 犯, shows a dog (犬) straining against a boundary or restraint, evoking transgression and aggression. Together, they create a powerful compound picturing an action, pushing one's presence forward, that deliberately crosses a line, resulting in the meaning "to offend or insult".