The word 学徒 (xuétú, "apprentice") is a compound formed by combining the character 学 (xué, "to learn; study") with 徒 (tú, which in this context means "follower; disciple; person in a certain trade"). The formation is semantic, where "学" describes the primary action or state (learning), and "徒" specifies the category of person. Thus, a 学徒 is literally a "learning follower", a person who follows and learns a craft or skill under the guidance of a master, encapsulating the traditional master-apprentice relationship in a single, efficient term.