The Chinese word "手脚" is formed by combining the characters for "hand" (手) and "foot" (脚), two body parts essential for physical action and movement. This compound inherently represents the limbs involved in manual and locomotor activities, but through metaphorical extension, it collectively signifies broader concepts such as a person's dexterity or behavior in tasks (e.g., being quick or clumsy) and can imply covert interference or tampering, as seen in phrases like "做手脚". Thus, the word evolves from a literal pairing to a figurative expression encapsulating actions, methods, or manipulations rooted in the use of one's extremities.