The word 娘娘腔 is formed by directly combining the term 娘娘 (niángniang), a historical title for an empress or imperial consort that culturally evokes a stereotypical image of refined, delicate, and ultra-feminine mannerisms, with 腔 (qiāng), meaning "accent", "tone", or "style of speech/behavior". Together, they create a composite concept that literally translates to "like a娘娘 in style", constructing a critical metaphor for a man whose speech, gestures, or affect are perceived by the speaker as excessively or imitatively feminine. The term's formation is not grammatical but entirely conceptual, building a vivid, culturally loaded stereotype by yoking a specific archetype of womanhood to a man's perceived performance.