The word **珠子 (zhūzi)** is a compound noun formed through a common Chinese morphological process where the meaningful character **珠 (zhū)**, meaning "pearl" or "bead," is combined with the nominal suffix **子 (zi)**, which often serves to convert a root into a concrete, everyday noun or to indicate a small, round object. The suffix 子 adds no independent meaning but grammatically completes the word, creating a standard term for a "bead" or "small spherical object," thereby distinguishing it from the more literary or material-specific sense of 珠 alone.