The Chinese word **笑柄 (xiàobǐng)**, meaning "laughingstock" or "object of ridicule," is a compound noun formed through metaphorical combination. The first character, **笑 (xiào)**, means "to laugh" or "laughter." The second character, **柄 (bǐng)**, literally means "handle," "haft," or "power/authority." When combined, the term creates a vivid metaphor: just as a handle is something you grasp, a "laughing handle" is a flaw, mistake, or trait that people "grasp onto" or seize as a basis for mockery and ridicule, thus becoming a fixed point of reference for scorn.