Understanding "供给" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 供给
• Pinyin: gōngjǐ
• Literal Meaning: “to supply” + “to provide/give”
• Primary Meaning: to supply; supply (the act or amount of providing something that is needed)

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage: 供给 is a fairly formal word used for providing goods, resources, services, or energy in a systematic or large-scale way. You will see it often in economics, business, news, and official writing—especially in the pair 供给与需求 (“supply and demand”). It can work as a verb (“to supply”) or as a noun (“supply”). In everyday conversation, people more often say 提供 (“to provide”) or simply 给 (“to give”); 供给 sounds more written and technical. Note the pronunciation carefully: here 给 is jǐ (third tone), not the familiar gěi.
• Character Breakdown:
• 供 (gōng): to supply, offer, or make available.
• 给 (jǐ): in this word, “to provide” or “to furnish.” (The same character is usually gěi when it means “to give” in daily speech.)
  Together they reinforce the idea of furnishing what is required.

3. Example Sentences

• Chinese: 市场上的粮食供给很充足。
• Pinyin: Shìchǎng shàng de liángshi gōngjǐ hěn chōngzú.

• English: The grain supply on the market is very ample.

• Chinese: 这家工厂负责给全市供给电力。

• Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngchǎng fùzé gěi quán shì gōngjǐ diànlì.

• English: This factory is responsible for supplying electricity to the whole city.

• Chinese: 经济学家正在研究供给和需求的关系。

• Pinyin: Jīngjì xuéjiā zhèngzài yánjiū gōngjǐ hé xūqiú de guānxì.
• English: Economists are studying the relationship between supply and demand.

Cultural Notes (if applicable)

In modern Chinese public discussion, 供给 often appears in policy and business talk—phrases like 供给侧 (“the supply side”) show up in news about economic reform. Learners who know basic economics will find the word easy to remember once they link it to “supply,” but they should treat it as formal vocabulary rather than casual speech. The special reading jǐ for 给 is a classic exam and pronunciation trap.

Conclusion

供给 (gōngjǐ) means “to supply” or “supply,” especially of goods, resources, or services in formal or economic contexts. Remember the tone on 给 (jǐ, not gěi), and pair it mentally with 需求 (“demand”) to lock in both meaning and usage.

Sources and Further Reading

• MDBG Chinese Dictionary: 供给
• Wiktionary: 供给
• HSK vocabulary reference dataset

Dictionary links are provided for independent reference. Example sentences and learning notes on this page are educational explanations rather than dictionary quotations.