宠 (chǒng) — to pamper; to spoil; to favor (with excessive affection or preferential treatment)
Definition
A single-character verb for spoiling or pampering (a child, pet, or person). Compare 娇惯 (overindulge + coddle, often criticized), 惯 (also 'be used to'), and 放纵 (indulge with a sense of letting loose).
verb
to pamperto spoilto favor (with excessive affection or preferential treatment)
Examples
- 。Tā cóng xiǎo jiù bèi fù mǔ chǒng huài le.She was spoiled rotten by her parents since childhood.
- 宠，。Lǎo bǎn hěn chǒng nà ge lǎo yuán gōng, zǒng shì gěi tā zuì hǎo de xiàng mù.The boss really favors that veteran employee and always gives him the best projects.
- 宠，。Bié tài chǒng nǐ de māo, tā huì biàn de hěn tiāo ti.Don't pamper your cat too much, or it'll become very picky.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 寵; 宠 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
龍
龍lóng寵chǒng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 寵 pairs 宀 (roof) with 龍 (dragon): 宀 relates to the meaning and 龍 gives the sound. The simplified 宠 is a later shorthand.
Appears in
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