The kanji 共 primarily conveys the idea of "together," "jointly," "both," or "shared." It implies a state of being in common, mutual, or collective. It speaks to the idea of participation, collaboration, and shared existence.

・On-yomi (音読み): キョウ (kyou) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): とも (tomo)

⚫︎共同 (きょうどう) Translation: Joint; cooperation; collaboration ⚫︎共に (ともに) Translation: Together; both; alike ⚫︎公共 (こうきょう) Translation: Public; communal

The kanji 共 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字; けいせいもじ). The upper part represents a hand (originally depicting hands holding something) and the lower part is a shared container or field. It is believed to signify "shared" or "held together." The combination evolved to represent the idea of “together” or “in common.”