The Chinese term 灰姑娘 (Huīgūniang) for "Cinderella" is a direct and evocative semantic translation formed by combining three characters: 灰 (huī) meaning "ash" or "dust", 姑 (gū) meaning "maiden" or "girl", and 娘 (niang) which is a suffix for a young woman or daughter. It literally translates to "Ash Girl", which perfectly captures the essence of the European fairy tale character who is forced to work among the cinders and ashes of the hearth. This compound word does not phonetically mimic the original name but instead visually and conceptually conveys the protagonist's defining circumstance, creating an immediately recognizable and culturally resonant equivalent.