木偶 (mù'ǒu) literally means 'wooden偶' — 木 (mù) means 'wood', and 偶 (ǒu) means 'image', 'statue', or 'figure', often implying something artificial or lifeless. Together, they refer specifically to a puppet, especially a traditional hand- or string-operated marionette made of wood or other materials. Historically, wooden puppets were common in Chinese folk theater, such as Sichuan and Fujian puppetry traditions, where performers manipulate them to tell stories, often with moral or historical themes.

While modern puppets may be made from plastic or fabric, the term 木偶 remains the standard, neutral word for 'puppet' in Mandarin — used both literally (in performance arts) and figuratively (e.g., describing someone who is controlled by others). It’s distinct from other terms like 布偶 (bù'ǒu, 'cloth doll') or 皮影 (píyǐng, 'shadow puppet'), which refer to different puppet types.