供

• Pinyin: gōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 亻 (person, radical) + 共 (together, joint) — a person providing something for collective use

Meaning

To supply; to provide; to confess under interrogation. To make resources available for use, or to give a statement under official questioning.

Used in two distinct contexts depending on tone. (1) As gōng: to supply or provide (供水, 供电, 供货, 供不应求 = demand exceeds supply). (2) As gòng: to confess or make a statement under interrogation (招供, 供认不讳). The gōng sense appears widely in economic, utility, and infrastructure contexts.

Examples

1. 这座水库承担着为整个城区稳定供水的重要职责。 This reservoir bears the crucial responsibility of providing a stable water supply for the entire city.
2. 受疫情冲击，多家工厂减产，市场出现了供不应求的紧张局面。 Hit by the pandemic, many factories cut production, and the market slipped into a tense situation where supply couldn't meet demand.
3. 嫌疑人在审讯过程中最终如实招供，交代了案件的全部细节。 During interrogation, the suspect ultimately confessed truthfully and provided all the details of the case.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, utilities, supply chain, law

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 该发电站负责向周边三个省份供电。(This power station is responsible for supplying electricity to three neighbouring provinces.)
• 受原材料短缺影响，零部件供应出现了较大缺口。(Due to raw material shortages, a significant gap has appeared in parts supply.)

Don't Say

• 将第一声'供'（供给）与第四声'供'（供奉/供认）混淆而不说明区别 — 供 (gōng) = to supply; 供 (gòng) = to offer/confess; clarify when context is ambiguous

Origin & History

Pictophonetic: 亻 (person radical) + 共 (together/joint) — a person providing something collectively

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal