The compound word 捉弄 (zhuōnòng) is formed by combining two characters with related yet distinct meanings to create a new, nuanced verb. The first character, 捉 (zhuō), primarily means "to catch" or "to seize", implying a physical or metaphorical act of capture. The second, 弄 (nòng), means "to play with", "to fiddle with", or "to manage". When fused, their meanings blend to convey the concept of "to tease", "to play a trick on", or "to make a fool of someone", where the sense of "catching" or "seizing" someone's attention or situation is followed by the act of "playing with" it for amusement, thus capturing the essence of mischievous deception.