The Chinese word **少尉** (shàowèi), meaning "second lieutenant" or the lowest commissioned officer rank, is formed through a logical semantic compound structure: the morpheme **少** (shǎo), meaning "young," "junior," or "lesser," modifies the core morpheme **尉** (wèi), a historical term for a military officer or official. Thus, the term literally translates to "junior officer," systematically designating the entry-level rank within the "尉" officer category, distinct from higher ranks like **中尉** (zhōngwèi, "lieutenant," or "middle officer") and **上尉** (shàngwèi, "captain," or "senior officer"). This formation exemplifies how Chinese military terminology often uses descriptive, hierarchical modifiers attached to a root title.