Meaning
Offer, present, serve, or accompany. Often used in contexts such as religious offerings, services, or companions.
- 供物 — offering (to gods or spirits)
- 提供 — provide, offer (e.g. services, sponsorship)
- 供給 — supply, provision
- 供養 — memorial service for the deceased
- 子供 — child (uses 供 as a component)
The character is composed of 人 and 共, reflecting the idea of offering or serving together. It can imply both material offerings and human accompaniment.
神社に 供物を 供えました。
We offered items at the shrine.
その会社は 無料で サービスを 提供しています。
The company provides services for free.
The on-yomi キョウ and ク appear in compound words. The kun-yomi そなえる is used for religious or formal offerings, while とも is seen in classical or compound usages like 子供.