The Chinese word 加利福尼亚州 (Jiālìfúníyà Zhōu) for "California" is formed through a multi-step process: first, the English name "California" is phonetically translated into the closest corresponding Chinese characters (加利福尼亚 Jiālìfúníyà), which capture the sound but not the meaning of the original name; then, the suffix 州 (zhōu), meaning "state" or "administrative division," is appended to clarify its political-geographical status, resulting in a complete term that signifies the U.S. State of California.