The word "证据" is formed by combining the character "证", meaning proof, which itself consists of the semantic component "言" (speech) indicating verbal affirmation and the phonetic component "正" for pronunciation, with the character "据", meaning basis, composed of the semantic component "扌" (hand) suggesting reliance or support and the phonetic component "居" for pronunciation. Together, they create a compound where "证" contributes the sense of verification and "据" contributes the sense of substantiation, resulting in the meaning "evidence".