The word 糊涂 is formed through a vivid conceptual metaphor where two characters, each representing a state of mess or disorder, are combined to create a new meaning. The first character, 糊, originally refers to a paste or mush, something sticky and indistinct. The second, 涂, means to smear or daub, as with paint or mud. When paired, they evoke the powerful image of a mind or situation that has been smeared into a sticky, blurred, and incoherent mess, perfectly capturing the sense of being confused, muddled, or unclear-headed.