The word 责怪 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a layer of meaning that fuses into a single concept. The first character, 责 (zé), carries the core idea of demanding responsibility or assigning blame. The second, 怪 (guài), introduces the nuance of resentment, complaint, or finding fault. When joined, they do not simply list two ideas; instead, 责 provides the action's framework (holding accountable), which is then colored and intensified by 怪's emotional tone of criticism, resulting in a cohesive term meaning "to blame" or "to reproach" with a sense of accusatory displeasure.