The word 间谍 is formed by combining two characters that each contribute to the overall concept of a spy. The first character, 间 (jiān), carries the core idea of "gap", "separation", or "to sow discord", evoking the secretive, covert space in which the operative works. The second character, 谍 (dié), specifically means "intelligence" or "secret report", denoting the act of gathering and transmitting confidential information. Together, they create a compound where 间 describes the hidden, divisive method or position, and 谍 specifies the intelligence activity, resulting in the complete meaning of one who secretly operates within gaps or divisions to collect and relay secrets, an espionage agent.