The word 引起 is formed through a logical combination of its two component characters, creating a coherent conceptual sequence. The first character, 引 (yǐn), carries the core meaning of "to pull", "to draw", or "to lead". The second character, 起 (qǐ), means "to rise", "to start", or "to arise". When combined, the formation follows a cause-and-effect image: one action pulls or draws forth (引) a subsequent reaction that rises or begins (起). Thus, the compound naturally embodies the meaning of "to cause", "to give rise to", or "to lead to", as if pulling on a string to make something else lift into motion.