The Chinese word 内奸 (nèijiān), meaning "traitor" or "mole," is a compound term formed through semantic combination. The first character, 内 (nèi), means "inside" or "internal," establishing the locus of action. The second character, 奸 (jiān), carries the core meaning of "wickedness," "treachery," or "betrayal." When combined, the term literally translates to "internal treachery," structurally and conceptually specifying a person who commits betrayal from within a group, organization, or country, thus perfectly encapsulating the idea of a hidden enemy operating on the inside.