供应
gōngyìng · HSK 4
supply
📦 供 = offer/provide + 应 = respond; together = supply on demand
供 (gōng) means to offer or provide, and 应 (yìng) means to respond or meet. Combined, 供应 is providing goods to meet demand — a supplier responds to what is needed.
供 — person radical 亻 + 共 (together)
A semantic-phonetic compound: 亻 (person) gives the meaning of human action while 共 (together, gōng) supplies the sound. Originally meaning to present or offer jointly, it extended to 'supply, provide.' A second reading gòng means to make an offering or confess.
应 — 广 (shelter) + 心 (heart) + 隹 (bird)
Originally written 應, this character combined a phonetic component with 心 (heart) to suggest 'responding from the heart' or 'answering a call'. The simplified form 应 keeps the top portion. Over time it broadened from 'respond/answer' to also mean 'should' or 'ought to'.