The word "舞台剧" is formed through a logical and descriptive compound structure in Chinese, combining three distinct characters: "舞" (wǔ), meaning "dance"; "台" (tái), meaning "stage" or "platform"; and "剧" (jù), meaning "drama" or "play." The first two characters, "舞台," combine to create the noun "stage" (literally, "dance platform"), which then modifies the final character, "剧," to specify the type of drama. Therefore, the entire compound "舞台剧" literally translates to "stage drama" or "stage play," explicitly defining it as a theatrical performance meant for a live audience on a physical stage, as opposed to film or television.