tribute, support, finance
貢 centers on giving something of value to a higher authority or cause: paying tribute, offering financial support, or contributing resources.
貢 combines 工 (likely a phonetic component) with 貝 (shell, money), suggesting the idea of paying tribute or offering valuables.
The top 工 looks like a beam or work, and the bottom 貝 is a shell (ancient money). Picture workers carrying shells as tribute to support the ruler.
For コウ, imagine a tribute of gold coins: the sound 'ko' in gold cues コウ, and the shells (貝) represent the finance.
contribution (furthering a goal or cause); services (to a cause)
to support (someone) financially; to finance; to supply (money); to give (in support)
tribute
annual tribute; land tax
tribute (to a monarch, feudal lord, etc.)
tribute
bringing tribute
paying tribute
international contribution; contributing to the wider world
offering; tribute
time to pay the piper; time to pay the land tax (in kind)
annual rice tax
tributary trade system (of China)
coming to pay tribute
contribution to society
contribution margin; marginal income
degree of contribution
contributor
annual tax; tribute
paying a tribute