The word "对不起" (duìbuqǐ), meaning "sorry", is formed through a vivid conceptual metaphor rooted in physical and social posture. It literally combines "对" (facing/toward), "不" (not), and "起" (to rise/stand up), creating the implied image of "not being able to stand face-to-face" with someone. This conveys the sense of being in the wrong, where one's fault or shame creates a barrier preventing an upright, direct encounter, thus necessitating an apology to lower oneself and restore balance. It is an idiom where the sum of its parts paints a picture of relational disharmony and the need for humility.