宠物 (chǒngwù), meaning “pet,” is a word that reflects our affectionate relationship with animals. To understand its full meaning, let’s break down the individual components:

• 宠 (chǒng):
  • Original form: In oracle bone script, 宠 depicted a house (宀) with a child (子) inside and a hand (又) offering food. This symbolized cherishing and pampering a child.
  • Meaning: It conveys the idea of “to love,” “to cherish,” “to favor,” or “to pamper.” This component captures the affectionate and caring attitude we have towards pets.

• 物 (wù):
  • Original form: In oracle bone script, 物 depicted a cow (牛) with markings on its body. This symbolized a valuable possession or object.
  • Meaning: It conveys the idea of “thing,” “object,” or “creature.” In the context of “宠物,” it acknowledges that pets are living beings that we value and care for.

Combining the Components:

When combined, 宠物 literally means “cherished creature” or “beloved animal.” This accurately reflects the special place that pets hold in our lives, where we treat them with affection and consider them part of our families.

Evolution of Meaning:

While the individual characters have ancient origins, the term 宠物 is relatively modern, likely emerging as keeping animals for companionship became more common.

Usage in Modern Chinese:

宠物 is widely used to refer to various types of animals kept as companions:

• Common pets: 猫 (māo) – cat; 狗 (gǒu) – dog; 鸟 (niǎo) – bird; 鱼 (yú) – fish
• Exotic pets: 仓鼠 (cāngshǔ) – hamster; 蜥蜴 (xīyì) – lizard; 蛇 (shé) – snake

By understanding the original structure and meaning of its components, we can appreciate how 宠物 effectively conveys the loving and caring relationship between humans and their animal companions.