供养

供養
gōngyǎng / gòngyǎng
verb HSK 7-9 #18,118

Meanings

  1. 1 to provide for; to support (one's elders)
  2. 2 to maintain financially

Examples

HSK 2
Tā yí ge rén gōngyǎng zhe liǎng gè háizi shàngxué.
On her own she supports two children through school.
HSK 4
Tā měiyuè jì qián huí jiā gōngyǎng fùmǔ.
He sends money home every month to support his parents.
HSK 5
Zhège jiā quán kào tā yí ge rén gōngyǎng.
The whole family depends on him alone for support.

Tips

mistakes
Two readings, two different words. This one is gōngyǎng, where 供 means to supply, so it is about keeping a person fed and housed. Read gòngyǎng, 供养 is a different word meaning to make offerings to gods or ancestors.
usage
Points upward in the family: children 供养 their parents. The legal term for that duty is 赡养, while raising children downward is 抚养.

Stroke Order

供 gōng
养 yǎng