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宠物 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
宠物chǒngwùhouse petHSK 5, n, rank #3278, Hard
chǒngwù(chong3wu4) T3
  1. 1house pet
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
宠物(寵物)chǒngwù(chong3wu4)

宠物 (chǒngwù) refers to domesticated animals kept for companionship and enjoyment, commonly known as pets. This term encompasses various animals, such as dogs, cats, and birds, that people care for and bond with in their homes.

Frequency#3278DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, pets are increasingly popular, especially in urban areas, as symbols of companionship and emotional support. The rising trend of pet ownership reflects changing social values and lifestyles.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'charming' pet that brings joy to your home. The character 宠 (chǒng) looks like a person giving affection to an animal, while 物 (wù) indicates objects or things, highlighting that pets are beloved 'things' in our lives.

Meanings of 宠物

chǒngwù(chong3wu4)
1house pet
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 宠物

宠物Simplified
寵物Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3278Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 宠物

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Podcast: 宠物

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AI Study Notes for 宠物

Quick Contrast

宠物 (chǒngwù) vs 动物 (dòngwù) — use 宠物 when specifically referring to pets, while 动物 is a broader term for any animal.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'charming' pet that brings joy to your home. The character 宠 (chǒng) looks like a person giving affection to an animal, while 物 (wù) indicates objects or things, highlighting that pets are beloved 'things' in our lives.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 宠 (chǒng) as a third tone and 物 (wù) as a fourth tone, as mixing them up can change the meaning. This term is informal and commonly used in everyday conversations, often paired with adjectives like 'cute' (可爱) or 'loyal' (忠诚).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 宠物 connects with other vocabulary related to animals and household items. Focus on using it in sentences describing your own pets or discussing pet care, which can enhance your conversational skills.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, pets are increasingly popular, especially in urban areas, as symbols of companionship and emotional support. The rising trend of pet ownership reflects changing social values and lifestyles.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 宠物 with the word for 'animal' (动物, dòngwù) and mistakenly use it to refer to non-pet animals. For example, saying '我有很多宠物' (I have many pets) when referring to farm animals is incorrect; use 宠物 only for domestic companions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 宠物

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Component Characters

宠chǒngto love
HSK 78 strokes宀
View full entry
物wùthing
HSK 28 strokes牛
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Write 宠物

宠
物

Practice writing 宠物 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 宠物

宠物 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 5

Complete the Sentence

要确保不在家时____不会想你。

Make sure your pet won't pine while you're away.

Example Sentences for 宠物 (6)

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1
要确保不在家时宠物不会想你。

yào què bǎo bù zài jiā shí chǒng wù bù huì xiǎng nǐ。

Make sure your pet won't pine while you're away.
2
很多人喜爱的宠物，如猫和狗

hěn duō rén xǐ ài de chǒng wù， ， rú māo hé

popular pets, e.g. cats and dogs
3
我想要只宠物猫.

wǒ xiǎng yào zhī chǒng wù māo.

I want a cat as a pet.
4
因为最高仅为56厘米，这种矮种山羊基本上作为宠物来养。

yīn wéi zuì gāo jǐn wéi56 56 lí， mǐ ， zhè zhǒng ǎi zhǒng shān yáng jī běn shàng zuò wéi chǒng wù。

Reaching a maximum height of 56cm the pygmy goat is essentially a pet.
5
猫很有可能是吃了受污染的宠物食品而染上这种疾病的。

māo hěn yǒu kě néng shì chī le shòu wū rǎn de chǒng wù shí pǐn ér rǎn shàng zhè zhǒng jí bìng de。

There is a strong possibility that the cat contracted the condition by eating contaminated pet food.
6
我们看到一幢幢大楼倒塌，砸在人和宠物身上。

wǒ mén kàn dào yī chuáng chuáng dà lóu dǎo tā， ， zá zài rén hé chǒng wù shēn。

We watched buildings fall on top of people and pets.

Cultural Notes for 宠物

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, pets are increasingly popular, especially in urban areas, as symbols of companionship and emotional support. The rising trend of pet ownership reflects changing social values and lifestyles.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While pets are valued in both Chinese and Western cultures, the concept of treating pets like family members is more pronounced in Western societies, where pets often enjoy lavish lifestyles.

Frequently Asked Questions about 宠物

Common pets include dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and even reptiles.