The word 打败 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core concept to create a new, unified meaning. The first character, 打 (dǎ), fundamentally means "to hit" or "to strike", representing a forceful action. The second character, 败 (bài), means "to defeat" or "to be defeated", representing the outcome of a conflict. By fusing these concepts, the compound naturally conveys the complete process of "hitting until defeated", thus arriving at its meaning of "to defeat" someone or something.