The Chinese word **吉祥物** (jíxiángwù), meaning "mascot," is a compound noun formed by combining **吉祥** (jíxiáng), an adjective meaning "auspicious" or "lucky," with **物** (wù), a noun meaning "thing" or "object." The term literally translates to "auspicious object," conceptually describing a symbolic creature, person, or item that is believed to bring good fortune and represent an entity, such as a sports team or event. This formation follows a common Chinese lexical pattern where an attributive modifier (**吉祥**) is placed before a core noun (**物**) to create a new, specific term for a culturally resonant concept.