The word 谋杀 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a essential layer of meaning to create a specific concept. The first character, 谋 (móu), carries the sense of plotting, scheming, or premeditation. The second character, 杀 (shā), simply means to kill. When placed together, they do not merely list actions but fuse into a single, compound idea: a killing that is intentionally planned in advance, thus defining the act of murder.