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Kotomora

貢

tribute, support, finance

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 1,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • コウ
  • ク

Kun'yomi

  • みつ.ぐ

Meaning

貢 centers on giving something of value to a higher authority or cause: paying tribute, offering financial support, or contributing resources.

Most common words using 貢

20 of 25
  • 貢献こうけん
    N3

    contribution (furthering a goal or cause); services (to a cause)

  • 貢ぐみつぐ

    to support (someone) financially; to finance; to supply (money); to give (in support)

  • 貢こう

    tribute

  • 年貢ねんぐ

    annual tribute; land tax

  • 貢ぎみつぎ

    tribute (to a monarch, feudal lord, etc.)

  • 貢ぎ物みつぎもの

    tribute

  • 朝貢ちょうこう

    bringing tribute

  • 入貢にゅうこう

    paying tribute

  • 国際貢献こくさいこうけん

    international contribution; contributing to the wider world

  • 幣貢へいこう

    offering; tribute

  • 年貢の納め時ねんぐのおさめどき

    time to pay the piper; time to pay the land tax (in kind)

  • 年貢米ねんぐまい

    annual rice tax

  • 朝貢貿易ちょうこうぼうえき

    tributary trade system (of China)

  • 来貢らいこう

    coming to pay tribute

  • 社会貢献しゃかいこうけん

    contribution to society

  • 貢献利益こうけんりえき

    contribution margin; marginal income

  • 貢献度こうけんど

    degree of contribution

  • 貢献者こうけんしゃ

    contributor

  • 貢租こうそ

    annual tax; tribute

  • 貢納こうのう

    paying a tribute

Explore all words using 貢 →

Study

Etymology

貢 combines 工 (likely a phonetic component) with 貝 (shell, money), suggesting the idea of paying tribute or offering valuables.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 工 looks like a beam or work, and the bottom 貝 is a shell (ancient money). Picture workers carrying shells as tribute to support the ruler.

Reading mnemonic

For コウ, imagine a tribute of gold coins: the sound 'ko' in gold cues コウ, and the shells (貝) represent the finance.