The compound word **调皮 (tiáopí)** is formed through semantic combination, where each character contributes to the overall meaning. **调 (tiáo)** carries notions of "to mix," "to adjust," or "to provoke," implying a disruptive or unruly action. **皮 (pí)** literally means "skin" but is often used metaphorically to describe someone who is "naughty," "thick-skinned," or "mischievous." When combined, the word fuses the sense of provoking trouble (**调**) with the characteristic of being impishly naughty (**皮**), creating the modern meaning of "mischievous," "playful," or "unruly," typically describing a cheeky child or a playful, troublesome attitude.