The word "答应" is formed through the semantic fusion of two characters: "答", which originally conveys the idea of replying or answering verbally, and "应", which carries the sense of responding or assenting to a request or demand. Their combination does not merely add their meanings but blends them into a single, cohesive concept that denotes a specific kind of verbal response, one that signifies agreement, consent, or a promise to fulfill what is asked. It is a conceptual compound where the whole meaning (to agree or promise) emerges from the interaction of its parts.