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贡献 (gòng xiàn) — (verb) to contribute, to dedicate, to devote; (noun) contribution

Definition

贡献 (gòngxiàn) is the general word for 'contribute / contribution' — concrete effort or results, often with measure 个. 奉献 is more idealistic (self-sacrifice for a cause); 捐赠 is donating goods or money.

verb
to contributeto dedicateto devote
noun
contribution
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 贡献。
    Tā wèi gōng sī gòng xiàn le hěn duō.
    He contributed a lot to the company.
  • 贡献。
    Tā de gòng xiàn hěn dà.
    His contribution is great.
  • 贡献。
    Tā gòng xiàn le zì jǐ de shí jiān.
    She contributed her own time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

贡gòngtribute
献xiànoffer

贡 (tribute) and 献 (offer) combine to mean give or contribute.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 貢; 贡 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèi
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng貢gòng
Same sound today

The traditional form 貢 uses 貝 for meaning and 工 for sound; the simplified 贡 is a later abbreviation.

Open 贡 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獻; 献 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犬犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
鬳
鬳yàn獻xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獻 combines 鬳, which gives the sound, with 犬, a dog. The simplified 献 is a later shorthand.

Open 献 →
Appears in
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