The word "算账" is a verb-object compound formed by combining the verb "算" (suàn, meaning "to calculate" or "to reckon") with the noun "账" (zhàng, meaning "accounts," "bills," or "financial records"). Literally, it means "to calculate the accounts," referring to the settling of financial debts or bookkeeping. However, through common usage, it has developed a potent metaphorical meaning: "to settle accounts," implying a confrontation where one demands an explanation, seeks revenge, or holds someone accountable for past actions, thus blending a concrete financial action with an abstract sense of justice or retribution.