The Chinese word **禁区** (jìnqū), meaning "forbidden zone" or "restricted area," is a compound noun formed through a straightforward modifier-head structure common in Mandarin. The first character, **禁** (jìn), means "to prohibit" or "forbid," acting as a semantic modifier that describes the nature of the area. The second character, **区** (qū), means "area" or "region," serving as the head noun that is being modified. Together, they combine logically to denote an area where entry or specific activities are prohibited, such as a military zone, ecological preserve, or a sports term like the "key" in basketball.