The Chinese word **牌局 (páijú)**, meaning "card game" or "a session of playing cards/tiles," is a straightforward compound noun formed by combining two meaningful characters: **牌 (pái)**, which means "card," "tile," or "placard," and **局 (jú)**, which in this context means "game," "match," or "situation." It follows a common modifier-head structure in Chinese, where the first element **牌** specifies the type or tool of the activity, and the second element **局** functions as the head, denoting the event or gathering itself. Thus, the compound literally translates to "a game/session involving cards or tiles," efficiently conveying the concept of a social gaming event centered around card or mahjong tile play.