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March 24, 2026
供gōng(gong1)
The character 供 (gōng) primarily means 'to provide' or 'to supply.' It is often used in contexts where something is given or offered, such as providing services, supplies, or offerings in religious contexts. Additionally, it can imply the act of confessing or making a confession.
Strokes8Radical亻Frequency#2604DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of offering or sacrificial offerings is significant, especially in traditional ceremonies honoring ancestors or deities. The act of 供奉 is seen as a way to show respect and gratitude.
Memory Tip
Imagine a generous person standing proudly with his arms outstretched, offering gifts to others. The character 供 consists of the radical '人' (rén) which means 'person,' suggesting that it involves a person providing something. The pronunciation 'gōng' is like the sound of a gong signaling a special offering.
Meanings of 供
gōng(gong1)
primary
1to provide
2to supply
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 供
供Simplified
8Strokes
亻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2604Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 供
Podcast: 供
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AI Study Notes for 供
Quick Contrast
供 (gōng) vs 提供 (tígōng) — use 供 for general provision or offering, while 提供 emphasizes the act of supplying something specific.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a generous person standing proudly with his arms outstretched, offering gifts to others. The character 供 consists of the radical '人' (rén) which means 'person,' suggesting that it involves a person providing something. The pronunciation 'gōng' is like the sound of a gong signaling a special offering.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 供 (gōng) with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. This word is more formal, often used in written language or in contexts like business and religion. Common collocations include 供给 (gōngjǐ, to supply) and 供奉 (gōngfèng, to offer in worship).
HSK Study Tips
While 供 (gōng) is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 4 words related to providing and offering, like 提供 (tígōng, to provide) and 供给 (gōngjǐ). Focus on understanding its use in both everyday and formal contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of offering or sacrificial offerings is significant, especially in traditional ceremonies honoring ancestors or deities. The act of 供奉 is seen as a way to show respect and gratitude.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 供 by confusing it with 提供 (tígōng) which also means 'to provide.' For example, saying 我供给水 (wǒ gōngjǐ shuǐ) instead of 我提供水 (wǒ tígōng shuǐ) is incorrect. Remember that 供 is typically used in more specific contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 供
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Grammar Patterns of 供
供 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The supply of money in circulation was drastically reduced overnight.
8
他根据被俘囚犯提供的证据得出了这个结论。
tā gēn jù bèi fú qiú fàn tí gōng de zhèng jù dé chū le zhè gè jié lùn。
He based his conclusions on the evidence given by the captured prisoners.
9
他的酒店至少应该提供一点隐私保护。
tā de jiǔ diàn zhì shǎo yīng gāi tí gōng yī diǎn yǐn sī bǎo hù。
The least his hotel could do is provide a little privacy.
10
买方在付现之前可能要求提供进一步的担保。
mǎi fāng zài fù xiàn zhī qián kě néng yào qiú tí gōng jìn yī bù de dān bǎo。
Buyers might require further assurances before parting with their cash.
Cultural Notes for 供
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the act of making offerings, or '供', is highly significant during festivals and ancestral worship, reflecting respect and gratitude towards ancestors and deities.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of offering or sacrificial offerings is significant, especially in traditional ceremonies honoring ancestors or deities. The act of 供奉 is seen as a way to show respect and gratitude.
Word Family of 供
Words Containing This Character20
提供tígōngto offer
供gōngto provide
供应gōngyìngto supply供應
供给gōngjǐto furnish供給
口供statement
招供to confess
供电to supply electricity供電
供水to supply water
供词confession供詞
供货to supply goods供貨
供求gōngqiúsupply and demand (economics)
逼供to extort a confession
供认to confess供認
供需supply and demand
供应商supplier供應商
供养to supply供養
供热heat supply供熱
供销distribution供銷
供不应求gōngbúyìngqiúsupply does not meet demand供不應求
供奉gòngfèngto consecrate
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 提供 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 供
供 (gōng) and 提供 (tígōng) both mean 'to provide,' but 提供 specifically emphasizes the action of offering or supplying something. While 供 can be used in broader contexts, 提供 is commonly used when referring to giving something to someone, such as information or assistance.
Yes, 供 (gōng) can be found in various idioms and expressions, particularly those related to offering or support. One example is '供养' (gōngyǎng), which means 'to support' or 'to provide for someone financially or materially.' Understanding these expressions can enhance your language skills.
供 (gōng) means 'to provide' or 'to supply' in Chinese. It can also refer to a sacrificial offering in certain contexts. The character can be used in various phrases to indicate the act of supplying or providing something necessary.
You can use 供 (gōng) in sentences like '我会供你需要的资源' (Wǒ huì gōng nǐ xūyào de zīyuán), which means 'I will provide you with the resources you need.' It is often used in contexts where one party provides something to another, whether it be resources, services, or support.
Yes, 供 can be used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing services or supplies, but it often appears in more formal contexts.
Absolutely, 供 is frequently used to refer to offerings made in worship or religious rituals.
Common phrases include 供给 (to supply) and 供奉 (to offer in worship).
