The word 正式 is formed through the conceptual combination of its two component characters: 正, which carries the core idea of being upright, correct, or proper, and 式, which represents form, pattern, or style. They are merged not merely by adding meanings, but by having 正 modify and qualify 式, resulting in the composite notion of a "proper form" or "correct pattern". This fusion creates a new, abstract concept, formal, official, or regular, that transcends the simple sum of its parts, illustrating how classical Chinese compounds often build meaning by linking fundamental ideas to express a more complex, qualitative state.