The word "憔悴" is formed from two characters, each containing the "忄" radical related to mental or emotional states. The character "憔" incorporates "焦" (meaning burnt or scorched) to suggest a distressed or withered condition, while "悴" incorporates "卒" (often associated with exhaustion or culmination) to imply weariness or decline. Combined, these elements convey a sense of being physically and mentally drained, resulting in the meaning of haggard or emaciated.