The Chinese term 芭比 (Bābǐ) for "Barbie" is a phonetic loanword formed through transliteration, where the two characters were selected primarily for their sound—芭 (bā) closely approximates the first syllable "Bar," and 比 (bǐ) matches the second syllable "bie." Additionally, the character 芭, often associated with fragrant plants or flowers in classical poetry, carries a subtle, conventional feminine connotation that appropriately aligns with the doll's image, making the transliteration both phonetically apt and culturally resonant, unlike a purely meaning-based translation.