The word 误解 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core idea to create a new, composite meaning. The first character, 误 (wù), carries the essential notion of "mistake" or "error". The second character, 解 (jiě), fundamentally means "to untie", "to loosen", or, by natural extension, "to understand" or "to explain". When placed together, the concept flows directly: an "error in understanding" or a "mistaken explanation". Thus, the formation is a logical and intuitive conceptual assembly where the first element describes the type (erroneous) of the second element's action (understanding), resulting in the unified meaning of "misunderstanding".