The word 脚踝 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a specific meaning to create a precise anatomical term. The first character, 脚 (jiǎo), means "foot", establishing the general area of the body. The second, 踝 (huái), specifically refers to the ankle bone or malleolus. Together, they create a compound where 脚 provides the contextual location and 踝 specifies the particular joint and bony protrusion, resulting in the complete meaning of "ankle", the joint connecting the foot to the leg.