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공급하다

B1 verb #3,500 most common 1 min read

공급하다

gonggeuphada Top 3,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 공급하다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 공급하다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners are just beginning to understand basic verbs for 'giving'. While '공급하다' is generally considered a more advanced word (B1), an A1 learner might encounter it in very simple contexts like science books for children or basic news headlines. At this level, think of '공급하다' as a 'super-sized' version of '주다' (to give). While '주다' is used when you give a toy to a friend, '공급하다' is used when a big company or the government gives something important, like water or electricity, to many people. You don't need to use it in your daily conversation yet, but if you see it, look for the 'Resource' (like 물 - water) and the 'Recipient' (like 우리 집 - our house) to understand that something is being moved from a big source to a smaller user. It's like a giant pipeline of giving!

At the A2 level, you are starting to talk about more than just personal interactions. You might talk about your job or basic social issues. '공급하다' becomes useful when you want to describe how systems work. For example, 'Plants need water' can be upgraded to 'Rain supplies water to plants' (비가 식물에게 물을 공급해요). At this level, you should start noticing the pattern: [Who] gives [What] to [Whom]. You will mostly see this word in its present tense (공급해요) or past tense (공급했어요). It is helpful to learn it alongside '수요' (demand), even if just to recognize them as a pair. Remember, you use this word for 'big' things like food for a city, power for a building, or blood for the body. It's a more 'professional' way to say 'provide'.

At the B1 level, '공급하다' is a core vocabulary word you should be able to use actively. You should understand the difference between '공급하다' and '제공하다'. While both mean 'to provide', you should use '공급하다' for physical materials, energy, and economic goods. You should also be comfortable with the passive form '공급되다' (to be supplied). For example, if you are writing a short essay about the environment, you might write about how we need to 'supply clean energy' (깨끗한 에너지를 공급해야 한다). You should also know the noun form '공급' and how it interacts with verbs like '늘리다' (to increase) or '줄이다' (to decrease). This level is where you transition from seeing the word as a single unit to understanding it as a part of a larger economic and logistical system.

At the B2 level, you should be able to use '공급하다' in complex sentence structures and more abstract contexts. You might use it in a debate about the housing market (주택 공급 문제) or in a technical explanation of how a machine works. You should also be aware of more specific synonyms like '납품하다' (to supply goods under contract) and '배급하다' (to distribute rations). At this level, your usage should reflect an understanding of the word's formal register. You can use it in business emails, academic reports, and formal presentations. You should also be familiar with the '공급받다' (to receive a supply) construction, which allows you to shift the focus of your sentences. Your ability to distinguish between 'supply' as a physical act and 'supply' as an economic concept should be clear in your speech and writing.

At the C1 level, '공급하다' is used with nuance and precision. You might use it metaphorically or in highly specialized fields. For instance, in a philosophical discussion, you might talk about 'supplying the soul with inspiration' (영혼에 영감을 공급하다), though this is poetic. More commonly, you will use it in high-level socio-economic analyses, such as discussing 'global supply chain disruptions' (글로벌 공급망 교란). You should be able to manipulate the word within various grammatical frameworks, such as using it in relative clauses or with advanced connectors like '~음으로써' (by supplying...). Your vocabulary should also include related Hanja terms like '공급원' (source of supply) or '공급처' (place of supply). At this level, '공급하다' is not just a verb, but a tool for precise conceptual expression.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of '공급하다' and its entire word family. You understand the historical and etymological roots of the word and can use it in any register, from legal documents to classical literature. You can discuss the 'elasticity of supply' (공급의 탄력성) in economic terms or the 'hemodynamics of blood supply' in medical terms with equal ease. You are also sensitive to the subtle stylistic differences between '공급하다' and its most obscure synonyms. You can use the word to create sophisticated rhetorical effects, perhaps contrasting the 'over-supply' of information with the 'under-supply' of wisdom in the modern age. At this level, the word is a fully integrated part of your intellectual toolkit, used with the same spontaneity and accuracy as a native speaker of high educational attainment.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

공급하다 in 30 Seconds

공급하다 means to supply or provide essential resources like water, power, or food in a systematic or professional way.
It is a Sino-Korean verb (供給) used frequently in news, economics, and science to describe the flow of goods.
Common patterns include '에게 ...을 공급하다' (to supply someone with something) or the passive '공급되다' (to be supplied).
It differs from '주다' (give) by its formal register and implication of meeting a systemic or large-scale need.

The Korean verb 공급하다 (gong-geup-ha-da) is a foundational term in both daily life and professional contexts, primarily meaning 'to supply', 'to provide', or 'to furnish'. It is a Sino-Korean word derived from the characters 供 (공 - to offer) and 공급하다 carries a nuance of systematic, continuous, or large-scale provision. It is most frequently encountered in discussions involving economics, logistics, biology, and utility services. For example, when a city provides water to its residents, or when a factory supplies parts to an assembly line, this is the word of choice. It implies a relationship between a provider and a recipient where a necessary resource is being moved to meet a specific demand or need.

Economic Context: In economics, this word is the literal counterpart to 'supply' in the phrase 'supply and demand' (수요와 공급). It refers to the total amount of a specific good or service that is available to consumers.
Biological Context: It is used to describe how the body provides nutrients or oxygen to organs. For instance, '산소를 공급하다' means to supply oxygen to the blood or cells.
Utility and Infrastructure: The term is ubiquitous when talking about electricity (전력), water (용수), or gas (가스) being delivered to homes and businesses by the government or private companies.

정부는 가뭄 지역에 비상 용수를 공급하다.
(The government supplies emergency water to the drought-stricken areas.)

Beyond physical goods, 공급하다 can also be used abstractly. You might supply 'information' (정보) or 'funds' (자금). However, it is rarely used for emotional support or abstract concepts like 'love' or 'courage', where words like 주다 or 전하다 are more appropriate. In a professional setting, if you are a vendor providing goods to a larger corporation, you would use this word to describe your primary business function. It suggests a professional level of responsibility and a structured transaction, differentiating it from the more casual '제공하다' (to provide/offer), which can be used for complimentary services or one-time gestures.

Mastering 공급하다 requires understanding its typical sentence structures and the particles that accompany it. In its most common active form, the subject (the provider) acts upon an object (the resource) to benefit a recipient. Because it is a transitive verb, the object marker ~을/를 is essential. Let's look at the variety of ways this word manifests across different registers and contexts.

The Standard Pattern: [Subject] + 가/이 + [Recipient] + 에게 + [Resource] + 을/를 + 공급하다.
Example: 회사가 직원들에게 점심을 공급합니다. (The company supplies lunch to the employees.)
The Passive Form: When the focus is on the resource being supplied, we use the passive form 공급되다.
Example: 새로운 아파트에 전기가 공급되고 있다. (Electricity is being supplied to the new apartment.)

식물은 뿌리를 통해 영양분을 공급받다.
(Plants receive/are supplied with nutrients through their roots.)

Notice the use of 공급받다 in the figure above. This is a very common construction where the recipient becomes the subject. Instead of saying 'The soil supplies nutrients to the plant,' Koreans often say 'The plant receives a supply of nutrients.' This 'Noun + 받다' structure is a powerful way to change the perspective of a sentence while keeping the core vocabulary the same.

In formal writing, such as business reports or news articles, you will often see 공급 used as a noun combined with other verbs. Phrases like '공급을 확대하다' (to expand supply) or '공급을 중단하다' (to cut off/stop supply) are extremely frequent. For example, '러시아가 가스 공급을 중단했다' (Russia stopped the gas supply). This demonstrates the word's flexibility and its central role in describing the flow of resources in modern society. Whether you are talking about the supply of new housing (주택 공급) or the supply of blood during surgery (혈액 공급), the structure remains consistent and logically driven by the provider-resource-recipient triad.

If you turn on the Korean news or read a business journal, 공급하다 will appear within minutes. It is a 'high-utility' word in formal and semi-formal Korean. Unlike some academic words that feel stiff in conversation, this word is used naturally whenever the topic turns to logistics, health, or the economy. Here are the primary environments where you will encounter it.

The Evening News (Economic Segment): News anchors frequently discuss the 'supply of housing' (주택 공급) or the 'supply of semiconductors' (반도체 공급). In these contexts, it's used to explain market trends and government policies.
The Doctor's Office: A doctor might explain that a certain condition is caused by a 'lack of blood supply to the brain' (뇌로 가는 혈액 공급 부족). It sounds professional and precise.
Corporate Meetings: In B2B (Business to Business) environments, companies discuss their 'supply chains' (공급망). A manager might say, '우리는 이 부품을 전 세계에 공급하고 있습니다' (We are supplying this part globally).

비타민 C는 우리 몸에 필수적인 에너지를 공급합니다.
(Vitamin C supplies essential energy to our bodies.)

You will also hear this word in educational settings. Teachers explaining history might talk about how armies were 'supplied' with weapons and food during the Joseon dynasty. In science class, the 'supply of sunlight' for photosynthesis is a common topic. Even in daily life, if you call a service center because your internet is down, the technician might talk about '신호 공급' (signal supply). While you might not use it while hanging out with friends at a cafe (where you'd use '주다' or '사주다'), it is indispensable for understanding the world of work, health, and society in Korea.

While 공급하다 is straightforward in its meaning, learners often stumble over its register and its proximity to other 'providing' verbs. Because Korean has several words for 'to give' or 'to provide' depending on the object and the social hierarchy, using '공급하다' in the wrong place can make you sound overly robotic or unintentionally formal.

Mistake 1: Using it for Personal Gifts: You should never say '친구에게 생일 선물을 공급했다'. This sounds like you are a logistics company delivering a birthday present to a client. Use 주다 or 선물하다 for personal gifts.
Mistake 2: Confusing with '제공하다': While often interchangeable, '제공하다' (to offer/provide) is more common for services, opportunities, or information that is given freely or as a courtesy. '공급하다' is more about the physical or essential flow of resources.
Mistake 3: Particle Errors: Learners sometimes use '~를' for the recipient. Remember: the recipient takes ~에게 or ~에, and the resource takes ~을/를.

Incorrect: 나는 동생에게 용돈을 공급한다.
(Correct: 나는 동생에게 용돈을 준다. / I give my sibling pocket money.)

Another subtle mistake is failing to use the honorific forms when the provider is of higher status, although 공급하다 itself is often used in objective third-person reports where honorifics are less common. However, if you are speaking about a CEO supplying resources, you might use '공급해 주시다' to add a layer of respect. Lastly, remember that in the context of 'supply and demand', the noun form 공급 is almost always paired with 수요 (demand). Confusing these two—for instance, saying '수요가 많아서 가격이 내려갔다' (Prices dropped because demand was high) instead of '공급이 많아서'—is a common conceptual error for students of both language and economics.

To truly sound like a native speaker, you need to know when to reach for 공급하다 and when an alternative might fit better. Korean vocabulary is rich with words that describe 'giving', each with its own specific domain. Here is a comparison of the most common synonyms and related terms.

공급하다 vs. 제공하다 (Provide/Offer): 제공하다 is the most common synonym. Use it for providing opportunities, services, or information (e.g., '기회를 제공하다'). Use 공급하다 for physical resources or systemic flow (e.g., '원자재를 공급하다').
공급하다 vs. 납품하다 (Deliver/Supply Goods): 납품하다 is specifically used in business contracts when a manufacturer delivers products to a buyer or a retail outlet. It is more narrow than 공급하다.
공급하다 vs. 배급하다 (Distribute/Ration): 배급하다 implies dividing a limited resource among many people, often used for food rations during a war or the distribution of movies to theaters.
공급하다 vs. 보급하다 (Disseminate/Popularize): 보급하다 is used when something new (like technology or a new variety of rice) is spread widely among the public.

그 회사는 학교에 급식 자재를 납품하고 있다.
(That company is delivering/supplying school meal ingredients.)

In technical settings, you might also hear 충당하다, which means to 'meet' or 'cover' a deficit (e.g., '부족한 예산을 충당하다'). While 공급하다 is about the act of giving, 충당하다 is about the result of having enough. Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the word that best matches the specific logistical or social scenario you are describing. For B1 learners, focus first on the 'Resource + 공급' collocations, as they are the safest and most common way to use the word correctly in 90% of situations.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '급' (給) is also found in '월급' (monthly salary), showing its deep connection to the act of giving or paying for something necessary.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /koŋɡɯpʰada/

US /koŋɡʌpʰɑdɑ/

The stress is balanced across the syllables, but a slight emphasis is often placed on the second syllable '급' (geup).

Rhymes With

언급하다 (to mention) 지급하다 (to pay) 초급 (beginner level) 학급 (class) 상급 (advanced level) 보급 (popularization) 입급 (deposit) 송급 (sending supply)

Common Errors

Pronouncing '급' as 'gub' with a long 'u' sound.
Missing the aspirated 'h' in 'hada'.
Treating '공' like 'gong' in 'going' (it should be shorter).
Pausing too long between '공급' and '하다'.
Mispronouncing the 'eo' sound in 'gong' (it's 'o').

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in newspapers and textbooks, requiring knowledge of Hanja-based words.

Writing 4/5

Requires correct particle usage (~에게 vs ~에) and understanding of register.

Speaking 3/5

Used naturally in professional or technical discussions, but less so in casual chatter.

Listening 3/5

Easy to recognize in news and documentaries due to its clear pronunciation.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

주다 (To give) 물건 (Object) 필요하다 (To need) 시장 (Market) 정부 (Government)

Learn Next

수요 (Demand) 유통 (Distribution) 소비 (Consumption) 잉여 (Surplus) 결핍 (Deficiency)

Advanced

탄력성 (Elasticity) 독과점 (Monopoly/Oligopoly) 인플레이션 (Inflation) 물류 (Logistics) 가치 사슬 (Value chain)

Grammar to Know

Passive form: -되다

전기가 공급되다 (Electricity is supplied).

Recipient markers: -에게 / -에

사람에게 (to a person) vs. 도시에 (to a city).

Noun derivation: 공급

공급이 많다 (Supply is plenty).

Causative/Benefactive: -해 주다

물을 공급해 주다 (To supply water for someone).

Receiving form: -받다

영양을 공급받다 (To receive nutrition).

Examples by Level

식당은 물을 공급합니다.

The restaurant supplies water.

Simple Subject-Object-Verb structure.

해는 빛을 공급해요.

The sun supplies light.

Using the polite ending -아요/어요.

엄마는 우유를 공급해요.

Mom supplies milk (to the baby).

Focus on the act of providing a necessity.

나무는 산소를 공급합니다.

Trees supply oxygen.

Formal ending -습니다.

이 기계는 전기를 공급해요.

This machine supplies electricity.

The subject is an inanimate object.

꽃에 물을 공급하세요.

Please supply water to the flowers.

Imperative form -세요.

우리는 음식을 공급해요.

We supply food.

First person plural subject.

누가 정보를 공급합니까?

Who supplies the information?

Interrogative form -니까?

정부는 가난한 사람들에게 쌀을 공급했습니다.

The government supplied rice to poor people.

Past tense -았습니다.

이 공장은 자동차 부품을 공급해요.

This factory supplies car parts.

Describing a business function.

운동은 근육에 에너지를 공급합니다.

Exercise supplies energy to the muscles.

Biological context.

비타민은 우리 몸에 아주 중요하게 공급되어야 해요.

Vitamins must be supplied very importantly to our bodies.

Passive form 공급되다 with 'must' (-어야 하다).

그 회사는 학교에 점심을 공급하고 있어요.

That company is supplying lunch to the school.

Present progressive -고 있다.

새로운 아파트에 가스를 공급할 거예요.

They will supply gas to the new apartment.

Future tense -ㄹ 거예요.

우리는 깨끗한 물을 공급받고 싶어요.

We want to be supplied with clean water.

Using 공급받다 (to receive a supply).

이 가게는 신선한 채소를 공급받아요.

This store receives a supply of fresh vegetables.

Focus on the recipient as the subject.

수요가 늘어나면 공급도 늘려야 합니다.

If demand increases, supply must also be increased.

Economic context using noun '공급'.

폭설 때문에 전력 공급이 중단되었습니다.

Electricity supply was cut off because of heavy snow.

Noun + 중단되다 (to be interrupted).

이 업체는 반도체를 전 세계에 공급하고 있습니다.

This company is supplying semiconductors all over the world.

Formal progressive form.

충분한 수분을 공급하는 것이 건강에 좋습니다.

Supplying enough moisture is good for your health.

Gerund form -는 것.

정부는 주택 공급을 확대하기로 발표했습니다.

The government announced it would expand the housing supply.

Noun + 확대하다 (to expand).

심장에 혈액을 공급하는 통로가 막혔어요.

The passage that supplies blood to the heart is blocked.

Relative clause modifying '통로'.

군대에 식량을 공급하는 일은 매우 중요합니다.

Supplying food to the army is very important.

Describing a critical task.

원자재 공급이 원활하지 않아 생산이 늦어지고 있다.

Production is being delayed because the supply of raw materials is not smooth.

Using the adjective '원활하다' (smooth).

전쟁으로 인해 에너지 공급망이 붕괴될 위기에 처했다.

The energy supply chain is at risk of collapse due to the war.

Using '공급망' (supply chain).

기업은 소비자에게 양질의 서비스를 공급할 의무가 있다.

Companies have an obligation to supply high-quality services to consumers.

Using '의무' (obligation).

이 댐은 인근 도시 전체에 용수를 공급하는 핵심 시설이다.

This dam is a key facility that supplies water to the entire nearby city.

Using '핵심 시설' (key facility).

혈액이 뇌에 제대로 공급되지 않으면 뇌졸중이 발생할 수 있다.

If blood is not properly supplied to the brain, a stroke can occur.

Conditional '면' with passive '공급되지 않다'.

태양광 발전은 친환경적인 에너지를 공급하는 좋은 방법입니다.

Solar power generation is a good way to supply eco-friendly energy.

Topic: Renewable energy.

그 나라는 천연가스를 유럽 여러 나라에 공급하고 있다.

That country is supplying natural gas to several European countries.

Geopolitical context.

정보기술의 발달은 지식 공급의 방식을 완전히 바꾸어 놓았다.

The development of information technology has completely changed the way knowledge is supplied.

Abstract usage: 지식 공급.

공급 과잉으로 인해 제품의 가격이 급격히 하락했다.

The price of the product dropped sharply due to oversupply.

Using '공급 과잉' (oversupply).

중앙은행은 시장에 유동성을 공급하기 위해 금리를 인하했다.

The central bank lowered interest rates to supply liquidity to the market.

Economic term '유동성' (liquidity).

생태계는 인간에게 헤아릴 수 없이 많은 자원을 공급해 왔다.

The ecosystem has been supplying countless resources to humans.

Using the present perfect continuous sense '-해 왔다'.

대중 매체는 편향된 정보를 공급함으로써 여론을 조작할 위험이 있다.

Mass media runs the risk of manipulating public opinion by supplying biased information.

Using '~함으로써' (by doing...).

신체의 각 조직에 산소를 원활히 공급하는 것은 생명 유지의 기본이다.

Supplying oxygen smoothly to each tissue of the body is the basis of maintaining life.

Advanced noun phrase '생명 유지의 기본'.

이 보고서는 전 세계적인 식량 공급 불균형 문제를 다루고 있다.

This report addresses the issue of global food supply imbalance.

Using '불균형' (imbalance).

혁신적인 기술이 시장에 공급되면서 기존 산업의 구조가 재편되었다.

As innovative technologies were supplied to the market, the structure of existing industries was reorganized.

Using '~하면서' (as/while) and '재편되다' (reorganized).

정부는 저소득층을 위한 공공 주택 공급 정책을 강화하고 있다.

The government is strengthening public housing supply policies for low-income groups.

Policy-oriented language.

원자력 발전소는 국가 전력의 상당 부분을 안정적으로 공급한다.

Nuclear power plants stably supply a significant portion of the national electricity.

Using '상당 부분' (significant portion).

자본주의 사회에서 부의 편중은 기회의 공급 불평등을 초래한다.

In a capitalist society, the concentration of wealth leads to inequality in the supply of opportunities.

Sociological analysis.

예술은 메마른 현대인의 삶에 정서적 자양분을 공급하는 역할을 한다.

Art plays the role of supplying emotional nourishment to the parched lives of modern people.

Metaphorical usage: 정서적 자양분.

희토류 공급의 무기화는 국제 정치의 새로운 갈등 요인으로 부상했다.

The weaponization of the rare earth supply has emerged as a new conflict factor in international politics.

Geopolitical term '무기화' (weaponization).

뇌의 신경 가소성은 외부로부터 공급되는 끊임없는 자극에 의해 촉진된다.

The neuroplasticity of the brain is promoted by constant stimulation supplied from the outside.

Scientific term '신경 가소성' (neuroplasticity).

역사학자들은 고대 문명의 쇠퇴 원인을 수자원 공급의 실패에서 찾기도 한다.

Historians sometimes find the cause of the decline of ancient civilizations in the failure of water supply.

Historical analysis.

인공지능 알고리즘에 양질의 데이터를 공급하는 것이 모델의 성능을 결정짓는다.

Supplying high-quality data to AI algorithms determines the performance of the model.

Technology focus.

철학은 인간의 이성에 끊임없는 질문을 공급함으로써 사고의 지평을 넓힌다.

Philosophy widens the horizon of thought by supplying constant questions to human reason.

Philosophical usage: 질문을 공급하다.

공급 측면의 경제학은 규제 완화와 세금 감면을 통해 성장을 도모한다.

Supply-side economics aims for growth through deregulation and tax cuts.

Economic theory term '공급 측면' (supply-side).

Common Collocations

전력을 공급하다

식량을 공급하다

산소를 공급하다

자금을 공급하다

정보를 공급하다

주택을 공급하다

원료를 공급하다

수분을 공급하다

영양을 공급하다

혈액을 공급하다

Common Phrases

공급 부족

— A state where the supply is not enough to meet demand. Often used in news about housing or chips.

반도체 공급 부족 사태가 심각하다.

공급 과잉

— Oversupply; when there is more of a product than people want to buy.

공급 과잉으로 배추 가격이 폭락했다.

공급망 관리

— Supply Chain Management (SCM). A common business term.

효율적인 공급망 관리가 필수적이다.

공급 단가

— Supply unit price; the cost per item provided by a supplier.

공급 단가를 낮추기로 합의했다.

공급 업체

— A supplier or vendor company.

새로운 공급 업체를 찾고 있습니다.

공급 계약

— A supply contract/agreement.

장기 공급 계약을 체결했습니다.

공급원

— The source of supply.

이 하천은 도시의 주요 공급원이다.

무료 공급

— Free supply; providing something without charge.

학교에서 마스크를 무료 공급했다.

긴급 공급

— Emergency supply.

재해 지역에 구호 물자를 긴급 공급했다.

안정적 공급

— Stable supply; providing something without interruption.

에너지의 안정적 공급이 중요하다.

Often Confused With

공급하다 vs 제공하다

제공하다 is broader and used for services/info; 공급하다 is for physical/essential resources.

공급하다 vs 납품하다

납품하다 is strictly for business contracts (delivering products).

공급하다 vs 배달하다

배달하다 is the physical act of carrying a package to a door.

Idioms & Expressions

"수요가 있는 곳에 공급이 있다"

— Where there is demand, there is supply. A common economic proverb.

결국 수요가 있는 곳에 공급이 생기기 마련이다.

Formal/Proverbial

"공급의 법칙"

— The Law of Supply (economics).

공급의 법칙에 따라 가격이 결정된다.

Academic

"혈맥을 공급하다"

— Literally 'to supply the lifeblood', used metaphorically for providing essential support.

이 투자는 중소기업의 혈맥을 공급하는 일이다.

Literary/Journalistic

"마르지 않는 공급"

— An inexhaustible supply.

그는 마르지 않는 아이디어의 공급원이다.

Metaphorical

"공급 과잉의 시대"

— An era of oversupply (often used regarding information or content).

우리는 정보 공급 과잉의 시대에 살고 있다.

Social Commentary

"젖줄을 공급하다"

— To provide a 'lifeline' (literally 'mother's milk') to something.

이 강은 농지에 젖줄을 공급한다.

Literary

"산소 호흡기를 공급하다"

— Metaphorically, to provide emergency aid to a failing entity.

정부 지원금은 파산 위기 기업에 산소 호흡기를 공급하는 격이다.

Journalistic

"공급 사슬"

— Supply chain (often used in a literal translation sense).

공급 사슬의 어느 한 곳이 끊어지면 전체가 멈춘다.

Business

"직공급"

— Direct supply (skipping the middleman).

산지에서 소비자에게 직공급한다.

Business/Modern

"공급 대란"

— A supply crisis or chaos.

요소수 공급 대란으로 물류가 멈췄다.

Journalistic

Easily Confused

공급하다 vs 보급하다

Both involve giving items to many people.

보급하다 focuses on spreading or popularizing a new thing (like a new technology). 공급하다 is about the continuous flow of a necessary resource.

스마트폰을 전국에 보급했다 vs. 전기를 도시에 공급했다.

공급하다 vs 배급하다

Both involve distribution.

배급하다 usually implies rationing limited goods (like food in war) or distributing movies.

전쟁 중에 식량을 배급했다.

공급하다 vs 지급하다

Both mean 'to give'.

지급하다 is used specifically for giving money, salaries, or official certificates.

월급을 지급하다.

공급하다 vs 기증하다

Both involve giving.

기증하다 is 'to donate' items to an institution (like a museum).

박물관에 그림을 기증했다.

공급하다 vs 전달하다

Both involve the movement of something to a recipient.

전달하다 is 'to convey' or 'to pass on' a message or a physical object.

메시지를 전달했다.

Sentence Patterns

A가 B에게 C를 공급해요.

정부가 시민들에게 물을 공급해요.

A에 B를 공급하는 것이 중요합니다.

피부에 수분을 공급하는 것이 중요합니다.

A는 B로부터 C를 공급받습니다.

식물은 흙으로부터 영양을 공급받습니다.

A의 부족으로 인해 B 공급이 중단되었다.

폭설로 인해 전력 공급이 중단되었다.

A를 안정적으로 공급하기 위해 B하다.

에너지를 안정적으로 공급하기 위해 댐을 건설했다.

A에 B를 공급함으로써 C를 도모하다.

시장에 유동성을 공급함으로써 경기 회복을 도모하다.

A 공급 불균형이 B에 미치는 영향.

식량 공급 불균형이 빈곤에 미치는 영향.

A는 B에 C라는 자양분을 공급하는 역할을 수행한다.

고전은 현대인에게 지혜라는 자양분을 공급하는 역할을 수행한다.

Word Family

Nouns

공급 (Supply)

공급자 (Supplier)

공급원 (Source of supply)

공급망 (Supply chain)

공급처 (Place of supply)

Verbs

공급되다 (To be supplied)

공급받다 (To receive a supply)

공급시키다 (To make someone supply)

수요 (Demand)

유통 (Distribution)

자원 (Resource)

생산 (Production)

소비 (Consumption)

How to Use It

frequency

High in news, business, and science; Medium in daily life.

Common Mistakes

친구에게 선물을 공급했다. → 친구에게 선물을 주었다.
You don't 'supply' personal gifts; you 'give' them. '공급' is for systems and resources.
도시는 물을 공급받다. → 도시는 물을 공급받는다.
Remember to conjugate the verb correctly in the present tense (받다 -> 받는다).
공급를 늘리다. → 공급을 늘리다.
The word '공급' ends in a consonant, so use the object marker '을'.
피부에 수분을 제공하다. → 피부에 수분을 공급하다.
While '제공하다' is okay, '공급하다' is much more natural and common in the beauty industry.
전기를 사람를 공급하다. → 사람에게 전기를 공급하다.
The recipient must take the particle '에게', not '를'.

Tips

Think Logistics

Whenever you think of a system or a pipeline providing something, use '공급하다'. It's the 'logistics' word for giving.

Particle Precision

Use '에게' for people/animals and '에' for places/organizations when identifying the recipient.

The Noun Form

Learn '공급' as a noun first. It appears in many compound words like '공급 부족' (shortage) and '공급 과잉' (oversupply).

Professionalism

Use this word in business meetings to sound more professional and precise about your company's operations.

Health Context

In medical or health contexts, use it for blood, oxygen, and nutrients. It's the standard term in Korean medicine.

Skincare Tip

You'll see '수분 공급' (moisture supply) on almost every Korean moisturizer or face mask package.

Market Trends

If you hear '공급' on the news, it's usually about houses, semiconductors, or oil.

Historical Context

Historians use it to describe how ancient empires managed food and water for their citizens.

Passive vs Active

Use '공급되다' when the provider isn't important, but the fact that the resource is arriving is.

Hanja Power

Remember '급' (Geup) means 'to give/pay'. It's the same '급' as in '월급' (salary) and '급식' (school meal).

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Gong' (공) being sounded to announce that the 'Geup' (급 - gear/goods) is being 'Hada' (done/delivered).

Visual Association

Imagine a giant pipe (the supply) flowing into a city or a body. The word '공급' looks like the structure of a delivery system.

Word Web

공급 (Supply) 수요 (Demand) 시장 (Market) 가격 (Price) 전기 (Electricity) 물 (Water) 식량 (Food) 정보 (Information)

Challenge

Try to use '공급하다' in three different contexts today: one for biology (oxygen/nutrients), one for business (parts/goods), and one for utilities (water/power).

Word Origin

Derived from the Hanja (Sino-Korean characters) 供給 (공급).

Original meaning: 공 (供) means 'to offer/provide' and 급 (給) means 'to give/pay'. Together they form the concept of providing what is needed.

Sino-Korean

Cultural Context

There are no major sensitivities, but avoid using it for personal emotional 'giving' as it sounds cold and mechanical.

While English speakers use 'supply' as both a noun and a verb, in Korean, the distinction between '공급' (noun) and '공급하다' (verb) is strictly maintained through the addition of '하다'.

Economic textbooks often start with the '공급 곡선' (Supply Curve). News reports on the '반도체 공급 부족' (Semiconductor shortage) during the pandemic. Medical dramas where doctors shout about '산소 공급' (oxygen supply) during emergencies.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Economics and Markets

공급과 수요의 법칙
공급을 확대하다
공급 과잉 사태
공급망 붕괴

Biology and Health

산소를 공급하다
수분을 공급하다
영양분을 공급하다
혈액 공급 부족

Utilities and Infrastructure

전력 공급 중단
용수 공급 시설
가스 공급 업체
인터넷 신호 공급

Business and Logistics

원자재를 공급하다
공급 계약서
부품 공급 업체
안정적인 공급원

Environment and Science

에너지를 공급하다
태양광 에너지 공급
자원을 공급하다
오염된 물 공급

Conversation Starters

"요즘 아파트 공급이 부족해서 집값이 너무 올랐어요. 어떻게 생각하세요?"

"우리 몸에 수분을 충분히 공급하려면 하루에 물을 얼마나 마셔야 할까요?"

"회사에서 원자재 공급 업체와 문제가 생긴 적이 있나요?"

"전기차 배터리 공급이 늘어나면 가격이 내려갈까요?"

"학교 급식에서 가장 중요한 것은 영양 공급이라고 보시나요?"

Journal Prompts

내가 다른 사람들에게 '공급'할 수 있는 나만의 특별한 지식이나 능력은 무엇인지 써 보세요.

최근 뉴스에서 본 '공급 부족' 사례에 대해 적고, 그것이 내 삶에 어떤 영향을 주었는지 설명하세요.

우리 사회에서 가장 안정적으로 공급되어야 할 자원은 무엇이라고 생각하는지 논하세요.

내 몸의 건강을 위해 내가 매일 '공급'하고 있는 좋은 습관들에 대해 기록하세요.

미래에는 어떤 새로운 에너지원이 우리에게 전력을 공급하게 될지 상상해 보세요.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Generally, no. '공급하다' is too mechanical. Use '주다', '전하다', or '베풀다' for emotions like love or kindness.

'공급' is supply (what is available), and '수요' is demand (what people want to buy). They are the two main forces in economics.

Yes, it is more formal than '주다'. It is standard in news, business, and textbooks.

Yes, but usually in a macro-economic sense, like '시장에 자금을 공급하다' (supplying funds to the market).

Use the passive form '공급되다'.

It means a 'supplier' or 'vendor company' that provides goods to other businesses.

No, that would sound very strange. Use '선물하다' or '주다'.

It means 'supply chain'—the entire system of moving a product from producer to consumer.

Yes, very common. It's used when the person receiving the supply is the subject of the sentence.

Yes, especially in technical contexts like '데이터를 공급하다' (supplying data).