宠
chǒng · HSK 7
to pamper
🐱💕 A dragon kept under your roof — a pet you pamper
宠 has 宀 (roof) over 龙 (dragon). Taming a dragon under your roof turns it into a beloved pet. The sound chǒng echoes 'cherong' — cherish + long companion.
宠 — roof 宀 + dragon 龙
宠 combines the roof radical 宀 with 龙 (dragon), suggesting a dragon kept under one's roof — something treasured and favored. The traditional form 寵 uses 龍, where 龍 also hints at the sound. The meaning evolved from 'to favor' or 'dote on' to the modern senses of 'pet' and 'spoil'.