The word "对话" is formed by combining two individual characters, each contributing a core meaning to create a new, composite idea. The first character, "对" (duì), fundamentally carries notions of symmetry, pairing, or facing something directly. The second character, "话" (huà), means speech, words, or talk. When joined, they create a conceptual image of reciprocal or facing speech, literally, an exchange where words are directed back and forth between parties, thus forming the meaning "dialogue" or "conversation".