The Chinese word 战斗机 (zhàndòujī), meaning "fighter aircraft", is a straightforward compound noun formed by combining two meaningful components: 战斗 (zhàndòu), which means "to fight" or "combat", and 机 (jī), a common abbreviated form of 飞机 (fēijī), meaning "airplane" or "machine". Literally, the term translates as "combat machine", where the first element defines the function ("fighting") and the second element identifies the category of object ("aircraft"). This type of modifier-head structure is highly productive in Mandarin, creating precise terms by specifying the purpose or type of a general noun.