Meaning
供 covers a surprising range of ground: making a ritual offering at a shrine, supplying goods in commerce, and walking alongside someone as a companion. The reading and context shift the meaning entirely. At a grave or altar, you 供える (そなえる) — present an offering. In economic writing, 供給 (きょうきゅう) means supply. And in daily conversation, 子供 (こども, child) is where most learners first notice this kanji.
Look inside the character: the left side is the 人 (亻) radical, meaning "person," and the right side is 共, meaning "together" or "jointly." One person holding something up with both hands — that image anchors both core meanings. Standing side by side: accompany. Presenting jointly: offer or supply.
Eight strokes, 6th grade in the Japanese curriculum — but JLPT N2 because the range of usage takes time to internalize. Vietnamese learners get an early foothold: 供 reads as CUNG in Hán-Việt, the same root as cung cấp (supply/provide).
供 lives in two distinct worlds. In temples and at gravesites, it means leaving ritual offerings for deities or ancestors. In courtrooms and contracts, it means to supply or testify. In everyday kitchen-table speech, 子供 (こども) is the word beginners reach most often — yet it traces back to the same character.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
供 has two on'yomi: キョウ and ク. Both appear in formal, often written contexts within compound words (熟語, jukugo).
キョウ (kyou) is the more common reading and shows up in vocabulary connected to supply, provision, and legal testimony:
- 供給 (kyoukyuu) — supply, provision (of electricity, water, goods)
- 提供 (teikyou) — to offer, to provide, to sponsor
- 供述 (kyoujutsu) — testimony, deposition (legal term)
ク (ku) is an older reading that survives mainly in religious and ceremonial vocabulary:
- 供養 (kuyou) — memorial service; Buddhist rite for the deceased or for inanimate objects
- 供物 (kumotsu) — offering, votive gift placed at a shrine or altar
- 供託 (kyoutaku) — legal deposit, consignment of funds to a court
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
供 has three kun'yomi: そな.える, とも, and the suffix -ども.
そな.える (sonaeru) — to offer, to set out a ritual presentation:
- 供える (sonaeru) — to place before a shrine or grave as an offering
- お供え (osonae) — a ritual offering (honorific)
とも (tomo) — companion or attendant, someone who follows a person of higher status:
- お供 (otomo) — escort, attendant (humble expression for accompanying someone)
- 供をする (tomo wo suru) — to accompany, to serve as an attendant
-ども (-domo) is a suffix forming a plural, most famously in 子供 (kodomo, child/children). Historically it implied a group of followers or a humble collective.
- 子供 (kodomo) — child, children
- 子供たち (kodomotachi) — children (emphatic plural)
Common Words & Compounds
Key vocabulary featuring 供, grouped by domain.
Supply & Provision
- 供給 (kyoukyuu) — supply, provision of resources
- 提供 (teikyou) — offering, provision; to sponsor a program or event
- 供給量 (kyoukyuuryou) — supply volume, quantity supplied
- 需給 (jukyuu) — supply and demand
Religious & Ceremonial
- 供養 (kuyou) — Buddhist memorial service; prayers offered for the dead
- 供物 (kumotsu) — ritual offering at a shrine, grave, or altar
- 供える (sonaeru) — to make an offering, to present ritually
- お供え物 (osonaemono) — offering item (Obon, funerals, New Year)
Legal & Formal
- 供述 (kyoujutsu) — statement, testimony before a court or police
- 供述書 (kyoujutsusho) — written statement, deposition document
- 供託 (kyoutaku) — legal deposit (e.g., depositing bail with a court)
Everyday Life
- 子供 (kodomo) — child, children (the most common encounter with 供 in daily speech)
- 子供部屋 (kodomo beya) — children's room
- お供 (otomo) — accompanying attendant; humble expression for joining someone
Example Sentences
子供たちは公園で楽しそうに遊んでいる。
Kodomotachi wa kouen de tanoshisou ni asonde iru.
The children are playing happily in the park.
母は仏壇に花を供えた。
Haha wa butsudan ni hana wo sonaeta.
My mother placed flowers as an offering at the Buddhist altar.
この地域では電気の供給が不安定だ。
Kono chiiki de wa denki no kyoukyuu ga fuantei da.
Electricity supply is unstable in this area.
彼は警察に詳しい供述をした。
Kare wa keisatsu ni kuwashii kyoujutsu wo shita.
He gave a detailed statement to the police.
この番組は大手企業の提供でお送りします。
Kono bangumi wa oote kigyou no teikyou de okurishimasu.
This program is brought to you by a major corporation.
祖母の一周忌に供養を行った。
Sobo no isshuuki ni kuyou wo okonatta.
We held a memorial service on the first anniversary of my grandmother's passing.
部長の出張にお供することになった。
Buchou no shucchou ni otomo suru koto ni natta.
It was decided that I would accompany the department head on the business trip.
需要と供給のバランスが崩れると価格が変動する。
Juuyou to kyoukyuu no baransu ga kuzureru to kakaku ga hendou suru.
When supply and demand fall out of balance, prices fluctuate.
お供え物として果物やお菓子を持っていった。
Osonaemono toshite kudamono ya okashi wo motte itta.
We brought fruit and sweets as offerings.
子供の教育のために最善を尽くしたい。
Kodomo no kyouiku no tame ni saizen wo tsukushitai.
I want to do my best for my child's education.
Memory Tip
Picture a person (人) standing beside another, both lifting their hands together (共) to present something at an altar. The left side of 供 is the "person" radical; the right side 共 means "jointly." That shared act of presenting explains the two main meanings: offer/supply (you hand something over) and accompany (you stand with someone).
For Vietnamese learners: 供 reads CUNG in Hán-Việt — the root of cung cấp (to supply). Next time you say cung cấp, you are already pronouncing half of 供給 (きょうきゅう). That shared root means the supply/provide meaning costs you nothing to learn.