The word 白痴 is formed by combining two characters: 白 (bái), which means "white", and 痴 (chī), which means "foolish" or "idiotic". Here, 白 is used metaphorically not for the color, but to suggest "blank", "pure", or "empty", conveying the idea of a vacant or void mind. Thus, the compound visually and conceptually paints a picture of an "empty fool" or someone whose intellect is absent or unmarked, creating a potent term for "idiot".