Chinese Character: 供
1. Character Basics
Radical: 亻 (rén, person, indicates related to people or human actions)
Stroke Count: 8
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gōng (First tone) or Gòng (Fourth tone), depending on meaning
3. Meaning
Core meaning (Gōng): To provide; supply; offer; furnish; for; to
Core meaning (Gòng): To offer (to gods or ancestors); sacrifice; confession; supply (for consumption)
This character has two main pronunciations with distinct meanings. As "gōng", it refers to providing or supplying something. As "gòng", it often relates to offering sacrifices or making confessions.
4. Common Words
- 供应 (gōng yìng) - To supply; provide
Example: 这家公司供应新鲜蔬菜。(This company supplies fresh vegetables.)
- 提供 (tí gōng) - To provide; offer
Example: 学校为学生提供免费午餐。(The school provides free lunch for students.)
- 供养 (gòng yǎng) - To support; provide for
Example: 他赚钱供养父母。(He earns money to support his parents.)
- 供奉 (gòng fèng) - To offer sacrifices to; enshrine
Example: 人们在寺庙里供奉神像。(People offer sacrifices to the gods in the temple.)
- 口供 (kǒu gòng) - Oral confession
Example: 犯罪嫌疑人录了口供。(The suspect made an oral confession.)
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of speech: Usually used as a verb, but can also be part of compound nouns.
Pronunciation notes:
- Pronounced "gōng" when meaning "to provide" or "supply": 供应 (supply), 提供 (provide)
- Pronounced "gòng" when meaning "to offer sacrifices" or "confession": 供奉 (offer sacrifices), 口供 (oral confession)
Usage patterns:
- As a verb: 供应用品 (supply goods), 供人欣赏 (for people to appreciate)
- In compound words: 供应 (supply), 提供 (provide), 供奉 (enshrine)
- As a noun suffix: 供求 (supply and demand), 供需 (supply and demand)
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the character "供" (gòng) has important religious and traditional significance. It is commonly used in the context of ancestor worship and offering sacrifices to gods, which are deeply rooted practices in Chinese society.
Traditional Chinese families often have a "神台" (shén tái, altar) at home where they place offerings of food, incense, and other items to honor their ancestors and deities. The act of offering is referred to as "供奉" (gòng fèng).
In modern usage, the character is more commonly encountered in its "gōng" pronunciation, referring to the provision of goods and services in everyday life and economics.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1 (gōng): 这家商店供应各种日用品。(This store supplies various daily necessities.)
Example 2 (gòng): 他们在祠堂供奉祖先牌位。(They enshrine their ancestors' tablets in the ancestral hall.)
Example 3: 这个地区水资源供应不足。(The water supply in this area is insufficient.)
8. Memory Tips
1. Component breakdown: The character "供" consists of "亻" (rén, person) on the left and "共" (gòng, together) on the right. Think of a person providing something for others to share together.
2. Visual association: Imagine a person (亻) offering something to a group of people gathered together (共).
3. Pronunciation mnemonic: Remember the two pronunciations by their contexts: "gōng" for everyday provision, "gòng" for religious or formal offerings.
4. Stroke order practice: Remember the stroke order:撇,竖 (for 亻), then横,竖,竖,横,撇,点 (for 共).