Translation guide
How to express the act of providing or furnishing something in Japanese, depending on what is supplied and the context.
To supply something concrete like products, parts, or materials to someone.
The most general term for supplying goods, resources, or services, often in economic or logistical contexts.
工場に部品を供給する。
We supply parts to the factory.
Used when an organization provides items to its members, such as a company issuing supplies or a government distributing goods.
会社が制服を支給する。
The company supplies uniforms.
To deliver or supply goods to a client, often used in business transactions.
来月までに商品を納入します。
We will supply the goods by next month.
To supply facts, figures, or explanations.
Broadly used for supplying information, services, or opportunities.
必要な情報を提供してください。
Please supply the necessary information.
To give or supply something abstract like influence, knowledge, or an impression. Can sound literary or formal.
この本は多くの知識を与えてくれる。
This book supplies a lot of knowledge.
To meet a requirement or fill a gap.
To satisfy or fulfill a need, demand, or condition.
需要を満たすために生産を増やした。
We increased production to supply the demand.
To supplement or make up for a shortage.
To give or provide something to a person, often in daily life.
供給する is for tangible goods and resources in a systematic way (e.g., electricity, parts). 提供する is for services, information, or opportunities, and can be used in both business and personal contexts.
電力を供給する。
Supply electricity.
サービスを提供する。
Provide a service.
The loanword サプライ (supply) is used mainly in compound nouns like サプライチェーン (supply chain) or in IT contexts. It is not a general verb for supplying.
不足分を輸入で補う。
We supply the shortfall through imports.
I supplied my friend with snacks.