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受宠 (shòu chǒng) — to receive favor (from a superior or authority)

Definition

Literary/formal verb meaning 'to be in someone's favor' — typically a superior's approval (a boss, emperor, patron). Common in set phrases like 受宠若惊 ('overwhelmed by unexpected favor').

verb
to receive favor (from a superior or authority)

Examples

  • ，受宠。
    Tā dé dào lǎo bǎn de shǎng shí, gǎn dào shí fēn shòu chǒng.
    She received her boss's recognition and felt greatly favored.
  • ，。
    Zhè cì bèi diǎn míng biǎo yáng, tā shòu chǒng ruò jīng.
    Being singled out for praise this time, he was overwhelmed by the favor.
  • ，受宠。
    Zài gǔ dài, dà chén men cháng yīn shòu chǒng ér jǐn shèn xíng shì.
    In ancient times, ministers often acted cautiously because they received the emperor's favor.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

受shòureceive
宠chǒngfavor

受 means to receive and 宠 means favor, so it describes receiving favor from a superior.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

受 possibly combines 爪 and 又 as hands with 舟 as a boat, to show handing something over.

Open 受 →

Most 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.

Open 宠 →
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