The word "愚蠢" is formed through a process of semantic compounding, where two characters with closely related meanings are combined to reinforce and intensify a single concept. The first character, "愚", carries the core meaning of foolishness or stupidity, often implying a lack of wisdom or perception. The second character, "蠢", originally depicted the movement of worms and evolved to signify sluggishness, clumsiness, or a dull, unresponsive mind. By placing them together, the compound word "愚蠢" creates a more vivid and comprehensive portrait of foolishness, blending the ideas of poor judgment with a sense of mental sluggishness or a lack of alert intelligence.