The Chinese word 暗算 is a compound formed by combining two characters: 暗 (àn), meaning "dark", "hidden", or "secret", and 算 (suàn), meaning "calculate", "scheme", or "plot". Literally, it conveys the idea of "secret calculation" or "hidden scheming". Together, they create a single term meaning "to plot against someone secretly", specifically through treachery or underhanded means, often with the intent to harm. This formation follows a common Chinese lexical pattern where two semantically related characters merge to express a more specific, often metaphorical, concept, in this case, transforming the neutral act of calculation into a malicious, covert plot.