The word **凑合** is a compound verb formed through the combination of two morphemes: **凑** (còu), which originally means "to gather" or "to piece together," and **合** (hé), meaning "to combine" or "to join." Historically, the term literally described the act of assembling or bringing disparate elements into one place or a whole. Over time, through semantic extension and metaphorical use, its meaning evolved to express "making do" or "getting by" with what is available, often implying a temporary or less-than-ideal arrangement. Thus, the word's formation reflects a conceptual shift from a physical gathering to an abstract notion of managing or accepting an imperfect situation, where elements are figuratively "patched together" to suffice.