How to Write 狃 (niǔ) — Meaning “To be accustomed to or to be intimate with.”

Picture a cow (犭 looks like a dog, but think animal) that is so 'used to' being ugly (丑 means 'ugly') that it doesn't mind. The animal is 'accustomed' to its own ugliness. This ties the meaning 'to be accustomed to' with the shape of the character.

The left side 犭 (dog radical) has three strokes: a left-falling stroke, then a hook stroke, and a short left-falling stroke. On the right, 丑 has four strokes: a horizontal, a vertical, a horizontal, and a horizontal. A common mistake is writing the right side too wide or confusing the order of the horizontal strokes.

犯 (fàn) means 'to violate' or 'criminal' and has the same radical 犭 but a different right part (⺋). 犰 (qiú) is a rare character meaning 'armadillo' and has the right part 九. While 狃 is about being accustomed, these others have different meanings and pronunciations. Visually, the right sides are distinct: 丑, ⺋, and 九.

狃 is quite rare in modern Chinese and mostly appears in classical or formal writing. It is used in the expression 狃于 (niǔ yú) meaning 'accustomed to' often in a negative sense, like being stuck in old habits. You won't find it in everyday conversation, but it might appear in literature to describe someone set in their ways.

Common words containing 狃 include: 狃于 (niǔ yú) — To be used to or accustomed to.; 狃恩 (niǔ ēn) — To be accustomed to favors.; 狃见 (niǔ jiàn) — A common sight or frequently seen..