The word **叮当 (dīngdāng)** is a reduplicative onomatopoeia formed by combining two phonetically imitative characters, 叮 (dīng) and 当 (dāng), to mimic the distinct, rhythmic, clanging sound of metal striking metal, such as a small bell, a piece of jewelry, or a chime. Each character represents a single, clear note, and their pairing in this order creates a compound that vividly reproduces the two-part "ding-dong" auditory effect, making it a classic example of how Chinese constructs words to directly echo sounds from the environment.