gōngjǐ: 供给 - To Supply, Provide, Provision

• Keywords: gōngjǐ, 供给, supply in Chinese, provide in Chinese, Chinese economics terms, 供给和需求, supply and demand, 供应链, supply chain, what does gongji mean, HSK 5 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 供给 (gōngjǐ), which means “supply” or “to provide.” Primarily used in economics, business, and logistics, `供给` is the formal counterpart to “demand” (需求 xūqiú). This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance in modern China's economic policy, and practical usage, contrasting it with similar words like `提供 (tígōng)`. Master this key HSK 5 word to discuss everything from supply chains to public utilities.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gōngjǐ
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To supply, to provide; supply, provision.
• In a Nutshell: `供给` is the formal and technical word for “supply.” Think of it not as a simple act of giving, but as a systematic and often large-scale provision of resources, goods, or services. It's the word you use to talk about the energy supply for a city, a factory supplying parts, or the fundamental economic concept of supply and demand.

• 供 (gōng): This character means “to provide” or “to supply.” It's composed of the person radical (亻) on the left and 共 (gòng), which means “common” or “together.” You can visualize it as a person (亻) providing something for the common good (共).
• 给 (jǐ): This character means “to supply” or “to provide for” with this specific pronunciation. It's crucial to note that this is a different reading from the much more common `gěi` (“to give”). The `jǐ` pronunciation is reserved for formal, technical compound words related to provision, such as `供给` and `补给` (bǔjǐ, to replenish supplies).
• Together, 供给 (gōngjǐ) forms a reinforced, formal compound word that solidly means “supply” in a systematic sense. Both characters contribute to the core concept of provision.

While `供给` is primarily a technical term, it has gained immense significance in China's modern political and economic discourse. The most prominent example is the policy of “Supply-Side Structural Reform” (供给侧结构性改革, gōngjǐcè jiégòuxìng gǎigé). This has been a cornerstone of Chinese economic policy since the mid-2010s, aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of the supply of goods and services rather than just stimulating demand. For a learner, understanding `供给` is not just about vocabulary; it's a window into how China's leadership discusses and directs its economy. Compared to the English word “supply,” `供给` is much more formal. In English, you could casually say, “Can you supply me with a pen?” In Chinese, using `供给` in this context (`你能供给一支笔给我吗？`) would sound bizarrely grandiose and incorrect. You would simply use `给 (gěi)`. `供给` is reserved for macro-level contexts: industries, utilities, chains, and national economies. It implies a system, a process, and a scale beyond simple, personal transactions.

`供给` is used almost exclusively in formal, written, or technical contexts. You will encounter it frequently in the news, business reports, academic papers, and government documents.

• In Economics and Business: This is its primary domain. It's used to discuss market supply, supply and demand, and supply chains.
  • e.g., `市场供给` (shìchǎng gōngjǐ) - market supply
  • e.g., `供应链管理` (gōngyìngliàn guǎnlǐ) - supply chain management (Note: `供应` is often used here, a close synonym).
• In Public Services and Utilities: It describes the provision of essential resources to the public.
  • e.g., `电力供给` (diànlì gōngjǐ) - electricity supply
  • e.g., `城市供水` (chéngshì gōngshuǐ) - urban water supply (Note: `供` is often used as a shorthand).
• In Logistics and Aid: It refers to the provision of materials for a specific, large-scale purpose.
  • e.g., `为灾区供给物资` (wèi zāiqū gōngjǐ wùzī) - to supply materials to a disaster area.

The connotation of `供给` is neutral and objective. It simply describes the function of provision without inherent positive or negative meaning.

• Example 1:
  • 经济学的一个基本原则是供给和需求之间的关系。
  • Pinyin: Jīngjìxué de yī gè jīběn yuánzé shì gōngjǐ hé xūqiú zhījiān de guānxì.
  • English: A fundamental principle of economics is the relationship between supply and demand.
  • Analysis: This is the classic textbook usage of `供给` as a core economic concept.
• Example 2:
  • 这家工厂负责为我们公司供给所有零部件。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngchǎng fùzé wèi wǒmen gōngsī gōngjǐ suǒyǒu língbùjiàn.
  • English: This factory is responsible for supplying all the component parts for our company.
  • Analysis: Here, `供给` is used as a verb in a formal business context, describing a B2B relationship.
• Example 3:
  • 由于干旱，当地的粮食供给出现了严重短缺。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú gānhàn, dāngdì de liángshi gōngjǐ chūxiànle yánzhòng duǎnquē.
  • English: Due to the drought, the local food supply has experienced a severe shortage.
  • Analysis: `供给` is used as a noun to refer to the overall “supply” of a crucial resource.
• Example 4:
  • 我们必须确保冬季的能源供给稳定。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū quèbǎo dōngjì de néngyuán gōngjǐ wěndìng.
  • English: We must ensure a stable energy supply for the winter.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the term's use in the context of public utilities and national resources.
• Example 5:
  • 新建的发电站将供给整个城市百分之五十的电力。
  • Pinyin: Xīnjiàn de fādiànzhàn jiāng gōngjǐ zhěnggè chéngshì bǎifēn zhī wǔshí de diànlì.
  • English: The newly built power station will supply 50% of the entire city's electricity.
  • Analysis: A clear example of `供给` as a verb for large-scale, systematic provision.
• Example 6:
  • 战争期间，军队的后勤供给线至关重要。
  • Pinyin: Zhànzhēng qījiān, jūnduì de hòuqín gōngjǐ xiàn zhìguān zhòngyào.
  • English: During the war, the army's logistical supply lines are critically important.
  • Analysis: Shows the use of `供给` in a military or logistical context.
• Example 7:
  • 这个项目旨在改善偏远地区的医疗服务供给。
  • Pinyin: Zhè gè xiàngmù zhǐ zài gǎishàn piānyuǎn dìqū de yīliáo fúwù gōngjǐ.
  • English: This project aims to improve the supply of medical services in remote areas.
  • Analysis: `供给` is not limited to physical goods; it can also apply to the provision of services on a large scale.
• Example 8:
  • 政府正在推行供给侧改革以刺激经济。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài tuīxíng gōngjǐ cè gǎigé yǐ cìjī jīngjì.
  • English: The government is promoting supply-side reform to stimulate the economy.
  • Analysis: A direct reference to the major Chinese economic policy, a phrase you'll often see in the news.
• Example 9:
  • 植物通过根部吸收营养来供给自身生长。
  • Pinyin: Zhíwù tōngguò gēnbù xīshōu yíngyǎng lái gōngjǐ zìshēn shēngzhǎng.
  • English: Plants absorb nutrients through their roots to supply their own growth.
  • Analysis: A more abstract, scientific use of the term, showing its application to biological systems.
• Example 10:
  • 敌军切断了我们的水源供给。
  • Pinyin: Díjūn qiēduànle wǒmen de shuǐyuán gōngjǐ.
  • English: The enemy cut off our water supply.
  • Analysis: A negative context, where the noun `供给` refers to the lifeline that has been severed.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing `供给 (gōngjǐ)` with `提供 (tígōng)` and the everyday verb `给 (gěi)`.

• `给 (gěi)`: Means “to give.” It's informal and used for direct, personal actions.
  • Correct: `他给了我一本书。` (Tā gěi le wǒ yī běn shū.) - He gave me a book.
  • Incorrect: `他供给/提供我一本书。` (This sounds overly formal and strange).
• `提供 (tígōng)`: Means “to provide,” “to offer,” or “to make available.” It's more formal than `gěi` and is often used for services, help, information, or opportunities. It focuses on the act of making something accessible.
  • Correct: `酒店提供免费早餐。` (Jiǔdiàn tígōng miǎnfèi zǎocān.) - The hotel provides free breakfast.
  • Correct: `他为我提供了很多帮助。` (Tā wèi wǒ tígōngle hěnduō bāngzhù.) - He provided me with a lot of help.
• `供给 (gōngjǐ)`: Means “to supply.” It is the most formal and technical of the three. It implies a large-scale, systematic, and often continuous provision of essential resources or goods. It focuses on the system or flow of provision.
  • Correct: `这个水库供给全城的用水。` (Zhè ge shuǐkù gōngjǐ quán chéng de yòngshuǐ.) - This reservoir supplies water for the whole city.
  • Incorrect: `请你供给一杯咖啡。` (A simple request like this would never use `供给`. Use `请给我一杯咖啡。`).

Key takeaway: Use `给` for giving things, `提供` for providing services/opportunities, and `供给` for supplying resources on a macro level.

• 需求 (xūqiú) - Demand; the direct economic counterpart to `供给`.
• 供应 (gōngyìng) - To supply; supply. A very close synonym to `供给` and often interchangeable. `供应` can sometimes feel slightly more focused on the active process of supplying to meet a need.
• 提供 (tígōng) - To provide, offer. As explained above, it's less systematic and more about making something available.
• 供应链 (gōngyìngliàn) - Supply chain. The network involved in producing and distributing a product.
• 供不应求 (gōng bù yìng qiú) - A very common idiom meaning “supply cannot meet demand.”
• 补给 (bǔjǐ) - To replenish supplies; provisions. Often used in military or travel contexts (e.g., getting new supplies for a long journey).
• 自给自足 (zì jǐ zì zú) - An idiom meaning “self-sufficient,” literally “to supply oneself and be content oneself.”
• 供求关系 (gōngqiú guānxì) - The supply-demand relationship, a core concept in economics.