gōngshuǐ: 供水 - Water Supply, to Supply Water [Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== gōngshuǐ: 供水 - Water Supply, to Supply Water ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** gōngshuǐ, 供水, water supply, supply water, running water in China, Chinese utilities, water outage, public infrastructure, water bill in Chinese
  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **gōngshuǐ (供水)**, the essential Chinese term for **water supply** or **to supply water**. This page provides a comprehensive guide for learners, covering everything from the character breakdown to its role in China's modern development. Understand how **gōngshuǐ** is used in daily life, such as dealing with a water outage or paying a utility bill, through practical example sentences and cultural insights into China's public infrastructure.
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>供水</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** gōngshuǐ
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb / Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** The system for providing water or the action of supplying water.
  * **In a Nutshell:** `供水` is a straightforward and practical term for the public utility of water. As a noun, it refers to the "water supply" system itself (e.g., "The city's water supply is stable"). As a verb, it means "to supply water" (e.g., "This reservoir supplies water to three towns"). It's a fundamental word for discussing daily life, infrastructure, and urban management in China.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **供 (gōng):** This character means "to provide," "to supply," or "to offer." It's composed of the person radical (亻) on the left and 共 (gòng), meaning "together" or "common." You can think of it as a person (亻) providing something for the common (共) good.
  * **水 (shuǐ):** This is the basic and ancient character for "water." It is a pictogram, originally drawn to resemble a flowing river or stream.
  * The two characters combine literally and logically. **供 (to supply) + 水 (water) = 供水 (to supply water / water supply)**. It's a clear and direct compound word with no hidden figurative meaning.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While `供水` is a modern, technical term, it taps into a deep cultural context surrounding water management and its connection to societal stability and progress in China.
Historically, controlling water (whether for preventing floods or for irrigation) was seen as a primary duty of a capable ruler and a sign of a prosperous dynasty. Today, this concept has evolved. A reliable, nationwide `供水` system is a powerful symbol of modern China's development, technological prowess, and the government's ability to provide for its citizens.
To a Westerner, a stable water supply is often taken for granted. In China, particularly for older generations or those from rural areas, the shift from fetching water from a well to having consistent running water at home represents a monumental improvement in quality of life. Therefore, discussions about expanding `供水` infrastructure, like the massive South-to-North Water Diversion Project (南水北调工程), are not just about engineering; they are a source of national pride and a tangible measure of the country's progress.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
`供水` is a neutral, standard term used across various contexts, from casual conversation to formal government reports.
  * **In Daily Life:** You'll encounter this term when dealing with household issues. For example, you might receive a text message from your building management announcing a planned `供水` suspension (暂停供水) for maintenance. You would also contact the `供水公司` (water supply company) if you have a problem with your water.
  * **In the News and Official Contexts:** Media and government announcements frequently use `供水` to discuss urban planning, drought relief efforts, infrastructure projects, and public utility management. Phrases like `供水紧张` (tight water supply) or `保障城市供水` (guaranteeing the city's water supply) are common.
  * **Formality:** The term itself is neither overly formal nor informal. It is the standard, correct word to use in almost any situation when referring to the water supply system or service.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 由于管道维修，明天上午八点到十点将暂停**供水**。
    * Pinyin: Yóuyú guǎndào wéixiū, míngtiān shàngwǔ bā diǎn dào shí diǎn jiāng zàntíng **gōngshuǐ**.
    * English: Due to pipe maintenance, the water supply will be suspended from 8 AM to 10 AM tomorrow.
    * Analysis: This is a very common type of public notice you might see posted in an apartment building or receive as a message. `暂停 (zàntíng)` means "to suspend temporarily."
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 我们小区的**供水**系统太旧了，需要彻底改造。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen xiǎoqū de **gōngshuǐ** xìtǒng tài jiù le, xūyào chèdǐ gǎizào.
    * English: The water supply system in our residential community is too old and needs a complete overhaul.
    * Analysis: This sentence uses `供水` as a noun, part of the compound `供水系统` (water supply system), to talk about infrastructure.
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 这座水库负责为周边三个城市**供水**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè zuò shuǐkù fùzé wèi zhōubiān sān ge chéngshì **gōngshuǐ**.
    * English: This reservoir is responsible for supplying water to the three surrounding cities.
    * Analysis: Here, `供水` is used as a verb, "to supply water." Note the structure `为 (wèi)... 供水`, meaning "to supply water for/to..."
  * **Example 4:** 
    * 如果你对水费有疑问，可以联系**供水**公司。
    * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ duì shuǐfèi yǒu yíwèn, kěyǐ liánxì **gōngshuǐ** gōngsī.
    * English: If you have questions about your water bill, you can contact the water supply company.
    * Analysis: `供水公司` is a fixed term for "water supply company" or "water utility."
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 持续的干旱导致当地**供水**非常紧张。
    * Pinyin: Chíxù de gānhàn dǎozhì dāngdì **gōngshuǐ** fēicháng jǐnzhāng.
    * English: The continuous drought has caused the local water supply to become very tight.
    * Analysis: `供水紧张` is a common collocation used in news reports to describe water shortages.
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 政府承诺要解决偏远地区的**供水**问题。
    * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ chéngnuò yào jiějué piānyuǎn dìqū de **gōngshuǐ** wèntí.
    * English: The government has promised to solve the water supply problems in remote areas.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the use of the term in a socio-political context, relating to development and public services.
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 新建的工厂需要稳定的**供水**和供电。
    * Pinyin: Xīnjiàn de gōngchǎng xūyào wěndìng de **gōngshuǐ** hé gōngdiàn.
    * English: The newly built factory requires a stable water supply and power supply.
    * Analysis: This shows how `供水` is often paired with its parallel concept, `供电 (gōngdiàn)`, power supply.
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 昨晚突然停水了，今天早上**供水**才恢复。
    * Pinyin: Zuówǎn tūrán tíngshuǐ le, jīntiān zǎoshang **gōngshuǐ** cái huīfù.
    * English: The water was suddenly cut off last night, and the water supply was only restored this morning.
    * Analysis: This shows the relationship between `停水` (water stoppage) and `供水`. `恢复 (huīfù)` means "to restore" or "to resume."
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 城市的**供水**能力直接影响其发展潜力。
    * Pinyin: Chéngshì de **gōngshuǐ** nénglì zhíjiē yǐngxiǎng qí fāzhǎn qiánlì.
    * English: A city's water supply capacity directly affects its development potential.
    * Analysis: A more abstract and formal usage, linking `供水` to urban planning and economics.
  * **Example 10:** 
    * 请问，是这里负责处理**供水**中断的报修吗？
    * Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, shì zhèlǐ fùzé chǔlǐ **gōngshuǐ** zhōngduàn de bàoxiū ma?
    * English: Excuse me, is this the place in charge of handling repair requests for water supply interruptions?
    * Analysis: A practical sentence you might use when calling a property management office. `中断 (zhōngduàn)` means "interruption."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **`供水` (gōngshuǐ) vs. `自来水` (zìláishuǐ):** This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
    * `供水` refers to the **service, system, or action** of supplying water.
    * `自来水` refers to the **product** that comes out of your tap: tap water.
    * You can think of `供水` as the delivery network and `自来水` as the package that is delivered.
    * **Incorrect:** 我不喝**供水**。 (Wǒ bù hē gōngshuǐ.) - "I don't drink the water supply system."
    * **Correct:** 我不喝**自来水**。 (Wǒ bù hē zìláishuǐ.) - "I don't drink tap water."
  * **`供水` (gōngshuǐ) vs. `水` (shuǐ):** Do not use `供水` when you simply mean "water" as a substance. `供水` is specifically about the utility service.
    * **Incorrect:** 你能给我一杯**供水**吗？ (Nǐ néng gěi wǒ yī bēi gōngshuǐ ma?)
    * **Correct:** 你能给我一杯**水**吗？ (Nǐ néng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ ma?) - "Can you give me a glass of water?"
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[自来水]] (zìláishuǐ) - Tap water; the water that the `供水` system provides.
  * [[停水]] (tíngshuǐ) - Water stoppage/outage; a temporary interruption of `供水`.
  * [[供电]] (gōngdiàn) - Power supply; the parallel utility concept for electricity.
  * [[水电费]] (shuǐdiànfèi) - Water and electricity bill; the fee paid for `供水` and `供电` services.
  * [[基础设施]] (jīchǔ shèshī) - Infrastructure; `供水` is a critical component of a city's infrastructure.
  * [[水龙头]] (shuǐlóngtóu) - Faucet, tap; the endpoint of the `供水` system inside a building.
  * [[水库]] (shuǐkù) - Reservoir; a primary source of water for a city's `供水` system.
  * [[节约用水]] (jiéyuē yòngshuǐ) - To conserve water; a common public service slogan related to the use of the `供水`.
  * [[水管]] (shuǐguǎn) - Water pipe; the physical component of a `供水` system.