The Chinese word **清真寺 (qīngzhēnsì)** for "mosque" is a semantically constructed compound that directly translates the Islamic concept into Chinese cultural terms. It combines **清真 (qīngzhēn)**, a long-standing term meaning "pure and true" that was adopted by Chinese Muslims historically to denote Islam itself and its halal practices, with **寺 (sì)**, a generic Chinese suffix for a temple or place of worship (as in 佛寺, Buddhist temple). Thus, the word formation is **"Qingzhen (Islamic) + si (temple)" = "Mosque,"** creating a culturally resonant term that identifies the building's religious function within the Chinese linguistic framework.