Obsolete term referring to a payment or offering made by a subordinate state or person to a superior, especially in historical contexts.
In ancient China, neighboring countries paid tribute to the imperial court.
contribution; contributing to a cause; service to a goal · paying tribute; tribute
paying tribute; tributary mission
offering; tribute
coming to pay tribute
The kanji 貢 historically represents tribute or offering. The reading こう is the on'yomi, commonly used in compounds. The standalone noun usage is obsolete.