supplement

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading of 補 is ほ, and its kun reading is おぎなう. It has 12 strokes and relates to supplementing or filling what is lacking.
• Basic usage: 補う is read おぎなう, and 補充 is read ほじゅう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 補う and 補充
  • 補う means to supplement or to fill.
  • 説明の足りない部分を図で補う。 means “We will use a diagram to supplement the parts of the explanation that are lacking.”
  • 補充 means replenishment or restock.
  • 棚の商品が減ったので、倉庫から補充しました。 means “The stock on the shelf was running low, so we replenished it from the warehouse.”