巩

鞏

gǒng

凡 + 工

Definitions

gǒng (adjective) secure; solid

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 丮 represents the meaning and 工 represents the sound.

Semantic: 凡 Phonetic: 工

About

The character 巩 (gǒng) derives from the traditional 鞏, a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic radical 革 (gé) means leather, indicating the material used, while 巩 (gǒng) provides the pronunciation. Originally, it depicted the act of tightly binding something with leather straps. This concrete meaning of securing through binding later extended to the more abstract concepts of consolidating, strengthening, or making firm, definitions that remain central today. The simplified form 巩 removed the leather radical, relying solely on the phonetic component.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

学生需要巩固知识。

Xuéshēng xūyào gǒnggù zhīshì.

english translation 1: Students need to consolidate knowledge.

政府努力巩固经济。

Zhèngfǔ nǔlì gǒnggù jīngjì.

english translation 2: The government works hard to consolidate the economy.

巩老师教我们数学。

Gǒng lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen shùxué.

english translation 3: Teacher Gong teaches us math.

巩固国防是国家的责任。

Gǒnggù guófáng shì guójiā de zérèn.

english translation 4: Consolidating national defense is the country's responsibility.

通过练习可以巩固记忆。

Tōngguò liànxí kěyǐ gǒnggù jìyì.

english translation 5: Through practice, one can consolidate memory.

巩固改革成果至关重要。

Gǒnggù gǎigé chéngguǒ zhìguān zhòngyào.

english translation 6: Consolidating the achievements of reform is crucial.

巩膜是眼睛的重要组成部分。

Gǒngmó shì yǎnjing de zhòngyào zǔchéng bùfen.

english translation 7: The sclera is an important part of the eye.

为了巩固地位，他不断学习新技能。

Wèile gǒnggù dìwèi, tā bùduàn xuéxí xīn jìnéng.

english translation 8: In order to consolidate his position, he continuously learns new skills.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 凡

Component: 工

巩