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March 24, 2026
宠(寵)chǒng(chong3)
The character 宠 (chǒng) primarily means to love or pamper someone, often used in the context of indulging a pet or a child. It conveys a sense of favoritism or excessive affection, suggesting a nurturing attitude that can sometimes lead to spoiling. In a broader context, it can also refer to a favored status or being in favor with someone.
Strokes8Radical宀Frequency#9968DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, pampering pets is increasingly common, reflecting a shift towards viewing pets as family members, which is encapsulated in the term 宠物 (pet). This mirrors a broader trend towards valuing emotional connections with animals.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 宠 as a cozy room (the radical 宀) where someone is lovingly pampered (宠) like a cherished pet. Imagine a dog sitting on a plush cushion, being fed treats and showered with affection, which helps you remember its meaning of pampering and love.
Meanings of 宠
chǒng(chong3)
1to love
2to pamper
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 宠
宠Simplified
寵Traditional
8Strokes
宀Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9968Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 宠
Podcast: 宠
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AI Study Notes for 宠
Quick Contrast
溺爱 (nì ài) - use 宠 (chǒng) for a more general sense of pampering, while 溺爱 emphasizes excessive indulgence that can lead to negative consequences.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of the character 宠 as a cozy room (the radical 宀) where someone is lovingly pampered (宠) like a cherished pet. Imagine a dog sitting on a plush cushion, being fed treats and showered with affection, which helps you remember its meaning of pampering and love.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include using 宠 in formal contexts, where it may sound too casual. It's often found in expressions like '宠物' (pet) or '宠爱' (to love dearly). Be cautious with tones; mispronouncing it as 'chòng' (with a falling tone) can change its meaning completely.
HSK Study Tips
Although 宠 is not listed in HSK levels, it relates to words like 爱 (love) and 喜欢 (like), which are foundational at lower levels. Students should focus on its applications in everyday conversation, especially when discussing pets or close relationships.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, pampering pets is increasingly common, reflecting a shift towards viewing pets as family members, which is encapsulated in the term 宠物 (pet). This mirrors a broader trend towards valuing emotional connections with animals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 宠 with 爱 (love), using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '我宠他' (I love him) sounds awkward; it's more appropriate to say '我爱他' (I love him) unless discussing pampering.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 宠
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Grammar Patterns of 宠
宠 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
她在挑逗我，这让我感到既惊讶又受____若惊。
She was hitting on me and I was surprised and flattered.
Common Confusions with 宠
宠vs重
zhòng
Similar pronunciation but different meanings.
爱 is a more general term for love, while 宠 specifically refers to pampering or spoiling.
1
他爱她，但他更宠她。
爱 is a more general term for love, while 宠 specifically refers to pampering or spoiling.
💡Remember that 爱 is broader while 宠 is specifically about indulgence.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to love"?
or
Usage Notes for 宠
Misuse of 宠Common Error
Learners often confuse 宠 with 爱, using them interchangeably. It's important to note that 宠 implies a more indulgent form of love.
zhè gè tí yì ràng wǒ shòu chǒng ruò jīng， ， néng dé dào nín de xìn rèn wǒ gǎn dào hěn róng。
It's a very flattering offer, and I'mhonoured by your confidence in me.
Cultural Notes for 宠
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, pampering pets is increasingly common, reflecting a shift towards viewing pets as family members, which is encapsulated in the term 宠物 (pet). This mirrors a broader trend towards valuing emotional connections with animals.
Word Family of 宠
Words Containing This Character15
宠物chǒngwùhouse pet寵物
宠chǒngto love寵
宠爱chǒng’àito dote on sb寵愛
受宠若惊overwhelmed by favor from superior (humble expr.)受寵若驚
宠坏to spoil (a child etc)寵壞
哗众取宠sensationalism嘩眾取寵
宠儿pet寵兒
受宠favored受寵
失宠to lose favor失寵
争宠to strive for favor爭寵
恩宠special favor from a ruler恩寵
宠信to dote on and trust寵信
娇宠to indulge嬌寵
得宠favor得寵
偏宠to favor偏寵
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 宠物 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 宠
While 宠 typically has a positive connotation, suggesting love and affection, it can sometimes imply over-indulgence or spoiling to the point of negative behavior. For example, overly pampering a child may lead to a sense of entitlement. Context is key to understanding its usage.
Some synonyms for 宠 include 爱 (ài), which means love, and 忍 (rěn), which can imply tolerance or indulgence. However, 宠 specifically emphasizes the idea of pampering or spoiling someone, making it unique in its usage.
宠 (chǒng) means to love, pamper, or spoil someone. It describes a relationship where someone is treated with excessive affection or care. This term can also imply favoritism towards a person or pet.
You can use 宠 in a sentence like '我宠我的狗' (Wǒ chǒng wǒ de gǒu), which means 'I pamper my dog.' It can convey the idea of treating someone with love and indulgence. Remember to pair 宠 with the person or entity you are spoiling.
You can say '我很宠我的狗' (I pamper my dog a lot) to express affection.
It can have a negative connotation if it implies excessive spoiling that leads to bad behavior.
While 宠 is often used for children or pets, it can also refer to treating someone with favor or affection in adult relationships.
