The word "独自" is formed through the combination of two meaningful characters: "独", which conveys the idea of being alone or solitary, and "自", which refers to oneself or self. When merged, these characters create a compound word where their individual meanings synergize to emphasize the state of acting or being by oneself, often implying independence or solitude. This formation follows a common pattern in Chinese where semantic elements are joined to express a nuanced concept, in this case, highlighting the aspect of self-reliant or unaccompanied action.