The Chinese word 符咒 (*fúzhòu*) is a compound term formed by combining two conceptually related characters: 符 (*fú*), meaning "talisman" or a written magical symbol inscribed on paper, wood, or other materials, and 咒 (*zhòu*), meaning "incantation" or a spoken or chanted spell. Together, they represent the dual, integrated methods of ritual magic in Daoist and folk religious traditions—the physical, written charm (符) and the verbal, auditory spell (咒). The formation follows the common Chinese linguistic pattern of pairing two synonymous or complementary morphemes to create a single, cohesive term that encompasses the broader concept of "magical invocations" or "ritual magic," where the written symbol and the spoken word are both essential and often used in conjunction to exert spiritual power.