The Chinese word 窃取 (qièqǔ) is a verb formed through the common method of **semantic compounding**, where two characters with related meanings are combined to create a more specific term. The first character, 窃 (qiè), means "to steal" or "secretly," carrying the core notion of theft or covert action. The second character, 取 (qǔ), means "to take" or "to get." When combined, 取 reinforces and specifies the action implied by 窃, resulting in a term that literally means "to secretly take," thus clearly defining the act as "to steal," "to pilfer," or "to usurp" something, often implying both illegitimacy and stealth.