The compound word "条理" (tiáolǐ) is formed through the combination of two semantically related characters: "条," which originally means a slender branch or item in a series, implying order and arrangement, and "理," which refers to the inherent pattern, texture, or rationale of something. Together, they form a **coordinative compound** where each character reinforces a similar conceptual field—both pertain to order and organization. The fusion metaphorically extends from physical orderliness (like aligned branches) to abstract logical structure, resulting in the modern meaning of "systematic order," "clarity of thought," or "methodical arrangement."