The Chinese word **连续剧 (liánxùjù)**, meaning "TV drama series," is a compound noun formed by combining the adjective **连续 (liánxù)**, meaning "continuous" or "sequential," with the noun **剧 (jù)**, which is a shorthand for **电视剧 (diànshìjù)**, meaning "television drama." The term literally translates to "continuous drama" and was coined to specifically describe a narrative television program broadcast in multiple, connected episodes, as opposed to a single, self-contained film or show, thus emphasizing its ongoing, serialized nature.