The word 外交 is formed by combining two conceptual building blocks: 外 (wài), meaning "outside" or "external", and 交 (jiāo), meaning "to interact", "to exchange", or "to have dealings with". Together, they create a direct and intuitive composite meaning: "external interactions", which perfectly encapsulates the core idea of diplomacy as the conduct of a state's official relations and communications with foreign nations and international organizations.