The word 友情 is formed by combining two independent characters, each carrying its own core meaning, to create a new, unified concept. The first character, 友 (yǒu), pictorially represents two hands reaching in the same direction, symbolizing "friend" or "fellowship". It is joined with the second character, 情 (qíng), which means "feeling", "emotion", or "sentiment". Together, they do not merely list ideas but fuse them into a single notion: the specific type of deep, affectionate feeling that exists between friends. Thus, the formation is a direct ideographic composition where the sum of the parts creates a precise and resonant compound meaning, the emotion of friendship.