How to Write 宠 (chǒng) — Meaning “To dote on; to favor.”

Imagine a dragon (龙) living inside your house (宀) — you would treat it like a beloved pet, doting on it and giving it everything it needs. This visual of a pampered dragon under a roof helps link the shape to the meaning 'to dote on.'

Write the roof radical 宀 first (three strokes), then the dragon 龙 below (five strokes). A common mistake is making the dragon component too wide or misplacing its hook; keep it centered under the roof and ensure the final dot on the right side of 龙 is clear.

宠 has a dragon under a roof, meaning 'to dote on' or 'pet.' In contrast, 宅 (zhái) has 乇 below the roof and means 'residence,' while 宇 (yǔ) has 于 below and means 'universe' or 'space.' The lower part changes both pronunciation and meaning completely.

宠 appears in everyday words like 宠物 (chǒng wù, pet) and 宠爱 (chǒng ài, to dote on). In Chinese culture, being 受宠 (shòu chǒng, favored) often carries a slightly indulgent tone, especially for children or pets, reflecting a warm but sometimes spoiling affection.

Common words containing 宠 include: 宠物 (chǒng wù) — Pet.; 宠爱 (chǒng ài) — To dote on; to love dearly.; 受宠 (shòu chǒng) — to be favored or pampered.