The Chinese word **台球 (táiqiú)** for "billiards" or "pool" is a straightforward compound noun formed through semantic combination. The first character, **台 (tái)**, primarily means "table" or "platform," referring to the flat playing surface. The second character, **球 (qiú)**, means "ball." Thus, the term literally translates to "table ball," which directly and logically describes the key equipment and setting of the game—balls played on a specialized table. This formation follows a common pattern in Chinese where two nouns are combined to create a new, specific term (e.g., 足球 zúqiú, "football").