The word 供应 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core meaning to create a new, unified concept. The first character, 供 (gōng), carries the essential idea of "to supply" or "to provide". The second character, 应 (yìng), adds the notion of "to respond to" or "to meet (a demand)". Therefore, the compound 供应 literally and conceptually represents the action of "supplying in response to a need", seamlessly merging the act of providing with the condition of fulfilling a requirement to form the complete idea of "to supply".