The word "蘑菇" for "mushroom" is formed through a process of semantic-phonetic compounding and reduplication, rooted in the character's visual design. Both characters share the "grass/plant" radical (艹) at the top, immediately categorizing it as a botanical growth. The first character, "蘑", incorporates the component "磨" (mó, to grind) primarily for its sound, while the second, "菇", uses "姑" (gū, aunt) similarly for phonetic suggestion. Together, they create a harmonious, repeating two-syllable word that feels descriptive and organic, with the duplicated plant radicals reinforcing its identity as a fungus from the plant kingdom.