The word 混合 is formed by combining two characters with closely related meanings to create a unified, reinforced concept. The first character, 混, originally depicted flowing water and carries the core meaning of "to mix", "to blend", or "to confuse", often implying an intermingling where elements lose their distinct boundaries. The second character, 合, depicts a lid on a container, meaning "to join", "to combine", or "to unite". Together, they form a compound where 混 provides the action of intermingling and 合 contributes the sense of coming together into one, resulting in the comprehensive meaning of "to mix and combine into a whole".