給

Phono-semantic compound:

糸 (가는실 멱) — semantic component, denotes thread or something connected or delivered.

合 (합할 합) — phonetic component, provides the sound gěi / geup and suggests joining, gathering, or combining.

Thus 糸 + 合 → 給 — “to join together (with threads),” later extended metaphorically to “connect by giving” or “provide.”

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「給，足也。从糸，合聲。」

“給 means sufficiency; composed of 糸 and phonetic 合.”

This early sense of “to make sufficient” evolved into “to furnish, to supply” and eventually “to give.”

給與 (급여) — wage, salary; remuneration

供給 (공급) — supply; provision

給水 (급수) — water supply

給食 (급식) — meal provision; catering

給電 (급전) — power supply

給養 (급양) — provisioning; sustenance supply

給付 (급부) — payment; provision (in law or finance)

Classical example (Zuo Zhuan · Duke Xi year 24):

「王使大夫賜晉侯，給其備。」

“The King sent an officer to present gifts to the Marquis of Jin, supplying him with provisions.”

Here 給 is used in the sense of “to furnish, to supply.”

In modern Chinese grammar, 給 functions as a coverb meaning “to” or “for”:

給你 (to you)

給我寫信 (write a letter to me)

被他給打了 (was beaten by him — colloquial passive usage).

In Korean Hanja , 給 is considered an advanced (고급) character, but appears frequently in administrative or technical vocabulary, chiefly in compound forms such as 給與 (급여) and 供給 (공급), denoting supply and provision — continuing its ancient sense of ensuring sufficiency and connection.