The Chinese word 竹子 (zhúzi, meaning "bamboo") is a disyllabic noun formed through a combination of semantic and phonetic elements: the character 竹 (zhú) itself is a pictograph of a bamboo plant with hanging leaves, representing the core meaning, while the suffix 子 (zi) is added primarily for phonological and lexical purposes. In this context, 子 is a nominal suffix that does not carry independent meaning but transforms the single-syllable root 竹 into a more stable, common two-syllable word, conforming to the prevalent disyllabic rhythm of modern Mandarin and often signaling a concrete, everyday object.