The word 异教徒 (yìjiàotú), meaning "heretic" or "infidel", is a compound noun formed through a logical, modifier-head structure common in Chinese. It breaks down into three morphemes: 异 (yì, meaning "different", "heterodox", or "foreign"), 教 (jiào, meaning "religion" or "teaching"), and 徒 (tú, meaning "follower" or "adherent"). Thus, the construction proceeds as [[异 + 教] + 徒], where "异教" (yìjiào, "heterodox religion") acts as a compound modifier describing the type of 徒 ("follower"), resulting in the complete meaning of "follower of a different/heterodox religion". This formation reflects a worldview centered on a religious orthodoxy, labeling those outside it.