The term **幕僚** (mùliáo) is a compound word formed through historical metaphor and semantic extension. The first character, **幕** (mù), originally meaning "tent" or "curtain," refers to the field headquarters or private office of a military commander or high official in ancient China, where strategic planning occurred away from the formal bureaucracy. The second character, **僚** (liáo), means "official" or "colleague." Thus, combined, **幕僚** literally translates to "tent officials," denoting a group of advisors, assistants, and staff operating within the leader's personal circle. Over time, the term evolved to describe any close-knit group of professional advisors or a private secretariat who provide counsel and administrative support to a decision-maker, retaining its core idea of a trusted, behind-the-scenes team.