Answer:
a) 篤 -> 駐 -> 青 -> 脹
篤 TOKU - serious, cordial
駐 CHUU - stop, reside
青 SEI, SHOU, ao(i) - blue
脹 CHOU - swell
b) 要 -> 如 -> 員 -> 贈
要 YOU, i(ru) - essential(s) need
如 JO, NYO - equal, like, as, as if
員 IN - member
贈 ZOU, SOU, oku(ru) - give, present, bestow