1.
to offer, to make an offering (to gods, ancestors, the deceased)
To present food, flowers, or other items as a religious or memorial offering, typically placing them at an altar, grave, or shrine.
仏壇に花を供える。
Offer flowers at the Buddhist altar.
墓に線香と果物を供えた。
I offered incense and fruit at the grave.
毎朝、神棚に水と米を供えるのが日課になっている。
It has become my daily routine to offer water and rice at the household Shinto altar every morning.
An ichidan verb. Not to be confused with the homophones 備える (to prepare, equip) or 具える (to possess, be endowed with), which use different kanji and have different meanings. The particle に marks the place or entity receiving the offering, while を marks the item being offered.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 仏壇に供える (offer at the Buddhist altar)
- 墓に供える (offer at a grave)
- 神棚に供える (offer at the household shrine)
- 花を供える (offer flowers)
- お供え物 (offering, oblation)