The word 可怕 is formed by combining two characters: 可, which here conveys a sense of "worthy of" or "capable of", and 怕, which means "to fear" or "fear". Their union does not simply add meanings but creates a new, fused concept where the first character intensifies and qualifies the second. Thus, the compound conceptually expresses something that "inspires fear" or is "fear-inducing", evolving into the single idea of "terrible", "horrible", or "frightening".