The word 埋伏 (máifú), meaning "ambush", is a compound formed through the semantic combination of its two component characters: 埋 (mái), which means "to bury" or "to conceal", and 伏 (fú), which means "to lie prostrate", "to crouch", or "to hide". Together, they create a vivid conceptual image of concealing oneself by lying in wait, perfectly capturing the tactical essence of an ambush, where combatants hide and remain still, buried in the landscape, before springing a surprise attack. This formation is a classic example of a coordinative compound, where both characters contribute related meanings to define a single, more specific action.