The Chinese word "槟城" is formed by adapting the Malay name "Pinang", where the character "槟" is used for its phonetic approximation to "Pin", and "城" is added meaning "city" to indicate its urban character. The selection of "槟" draws from its use in "槟榔" (betel nut), referencing local flora, but here it primarily serves as a sound borrow to replicate the foreign name within Chinese script.