貢 means “tribute, contribute”

こう · kou

Also: support, finance

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

みつぐ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

コウ, ク

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 10 strokes

The story

Work (工) turned into treasure (貝) and carried to the ruler: tribute. 貢献 is contributing, 年貢 the rice tax farmers once owed their lord, and 貢ぐ is lavishing money on someone, like a fan who buys everything their idol sells.

Used in 貢献 (kouken, contribution), 年貢 (nengu, feudal land tax), and 貢ぐ (mitsugu, to lavish money on)

More from Pay & Taxes

• 賃 fee
• 賠 compensation
• 稼 earn
• 酬 reward
• 俸 salary
• 租 tax
• 賦 levy
• 捗 progress
• 就 take up
• 償 compensate

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.