The Chinese word **索尔 (Suǒ'ěr)** is a phonetic transliteration formed through the process of **transcription** (音译), specifically designed to approximate the sounds of the foreign name "Thor" (the Norse god and Marvel character). The characters were chosen primarily for their pronunciation—索 (suǒ) mimics the initial "Th-" sound, while 尔 (ěr) approximates the ending "-or" sound—rather than for their literal meanings (which are "to demand/search" and "you" respectively). This method is standard in Mandarin for importing foreign proper nouns, creating a consistent and recognizable label detached from the original meaning of the component characters.