贡

貢

gòng

工 + 贝

Definitions

gòng (verb) to offer; to contribute; to tribute

gòng (noun) tribute; gift

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 工 represents the sound. Simplified form of 貢.

Semantic: 贝 Phonetic: 工

About

贡 signifies formal tribute, encompassing both the offering of valuable local products to an emperor and significant material and intellectual contributions to a society. The traditional form 貢 is a phono-semantic compound: the phonetic 工 (gōng, 'work') sits above the semantic 貝 (bèi, 'cowrie shell'), a symbol of ancient currency and wealth that grounds the character in precious goods and taxation. The simplified 贡 replaces 貝 with the simpler shell radical 贝 while preserving the same structure, continuing to express the delivery of regional commodities to a ruling authority or the dedication of resources to a collective cause.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他对社会有贡献。

Tā duì shèhuì yǒu gòngxiàn.

He has made contributions to society.

当地人民向朝廷进贡。

Dāngdì rénmín xiàng cháotíng jìngòng.

The local people paid tribute to the imperial court.

这些贡品非常珍贵。

Zhèxiē gòngpǐn fēicháng zhēnguì.

These tributes are very precious.

他为这个项目贡献了力量。

Tā wèi zhège xiàngmù gòngxiàn le lìliang.

He contributed strength to this project.

古代小国必须年年纳贡。

Gǔdài xiǎo guó bìxū nián nián nà gòng.

Ancient small states had to pay tribute every year.

这项发现是科学界的重要贡献。

Zhè xiàng fāxiàn shì kēxuéjiè de zhòngyào gòngxiàn.

This discovery is an important contribution to the scientific community.

如果人人都贡献一份爱心，世界会更美好。

Rúguǒ rénrén dōu gòngxiàn yī fèn àixīn, shìjiè huì gèng měihǎo.

If everyone contributes a share of love, the world will be better.

他的理论贡献对理解经济供需关系至关重要。

Tā de lǐlùn gòngxiàn duì lǐjiě jīngjì gōngxū guānxì zhìguān zhòngyào.

His theoretical contribution is crucial to understanding economic supply and demand relationships.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 工

Component: 贝

贡