The word **胜算** is a classical Chinese compound noun formed through syntactic combination, where **胜** (shèng, meaning "victory" or "to win") modifies **算** (suàn, meaning "calculation" or "plan"). Literally, it reads as "calculation for victory," but its established meaning has evolved to denote the inherent **probability or chance of success** in a given endeavor. The formation follows a common modifier-head (or *determinative*) structure in Chinese word-formation, where the first element specifies the type or purpose of the second; here, it specifies that the "calculation" is specifically one concerned with winning, thus conceptually crystallizing into the abstract idea of a favorable odds or a strategic advantage.