The word 破坏 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a vivid, concrete image to create an abstract concept of destruction. The first character, 破, originally depicted a hand using a stone tool to break a piece of cured leather, conveying the idea of "to break" or "to split". The second, 坏, was based on the pictograph of a cracking earthen wall or mound, meaning "to ruin" or "to deteriorate". Thus, the compound visually and conceptually progresses from the active act of breaking something apart (破) to the resulting state of it being spoiled or rendered useless (坏), together forming the complete idea of "to destroy".