The word "邋遢" (lāta) is a classic example of a disyllabic descriptive compound in Chinese, formed through a process of reduplication or phonetic association where two morphemes with similar sounds and meanings are paired together to create a single expressive term. Both characters share the radical "辶" (chuò), which relates to walking or movement, but in this context, they function primarily as a phonetic unit; neither character is commonly used independently with the same meaning. Together, they form a *liánmiáncí* (disyllabic word) that vividly depicts a state of slovenliness, untidiness, or general messiness, with the repetitive, slightly grating phonetic quality of "lā-ta" itself evoking the sense of disarray it describes.