The three-dimensional tilted axis cranking covariant density functional theory (3D-TAC CDFT) is used to study the chiral modes in $^{135}$Nd. By modeling the motion of the nucleus in rotating mean field as the interplay between the single-particle motions of several valence particle(s) and hole(s) and the collective motion of a core-like part, a classical Routhian is extracted. This classical Routhian gives qualitative agreement with the 3D-TAC CDFT result for the critical frequency corresponding to the transition from planar to aplanar rotation. Based on this investigation a possible understanding of tilted rotation appearing in a microscopic theory is provided.