The word **象棋 (xiàngqí)**, meaning "Chinese chess," is formed through a logical compound structure: the character **棋 (qí)** broadly means "board game" or "chess-type game," while **象 (xiàng)** carries a dual significance. Historically, it refers to the "elephant" piece in the game, but more profoundly, it means "image" or "symbol," reflecting the game's nature as a symbolic representation of ancient warfare with modeled pieces. Thus, the term essentially means "the game of symbols" or "the game with the elephant piece," encapsulating both its material components and its abstract, strategic essence.