The Chinese word **土匪 (tǔfěi)** is a compound noun formed through semantic combination: the first character **土 (tǔ)** literally means "earth" or "soil," but here carries the connotation of "local" or "rustic," while the second character **匪 (fěi)** means "bandit" or "outlaw." Together, they create a meaning distinct from either character alone, specifically referring to "bandits of the land" or "local bandits"—essentially describing outlaws or brigands who operate within a specific rural or local territory, often implying a lack of sophistication or organization compared to larger-scale rebels or military foes. This formation is typical of Chinese lexicon where two meaningful characters combine to produce a new, precise concept.