The word 谴责 is formed through the complementary combination of two characters with closely related meanings to create a single, more nuanced concept. The first character, 谴 (qiǎn), carries the core idea of blaming or reprimanding, often from a position of authority. The second character, 责 (zé), contributes the fundamental notion of holding someone responsible, demanding accountability, or finding fault. When paired, their individual meanings reinforce and deepen each other, merging to express the act of issuing a strong, formal, and morally charged condemnation. Thus, the formation is not merely additive but synergistic, resulting in a term for a severe reproach that implies both accusation and a demand for answerability.