The word **土豆泥** (tǔdòuní), meaning "mashed potatoes," is formed through a straightforward and logical semantic compounding process in Chinese: it combines **土豆** (tǔdòu), the word for "potato," with **泥** (ní), which means "mud" or "paste," to create a new noun that descriptively signifies the substance created by mashing potatoes into a soft, paste-like consistency. This structure follows the common Chinese word-formation pattern of a head-modifier, where **泥** acts as the head (the general substance) and **土豆** specifies the type. It is a direct, visually evocative compound that efficiently communicates the dish's core ingredients and texture.