‘供认’ is a formal, legal verb meaning 'to confess'—specifically, to admit guilt or disclose incriminating facts under official questioning, such as by police or in court. The first character 供 (gòng) means 'to offer' or 'to state (as testimony)', and carries the fourth tone here to distinguish it from the more common gōng (as in 供应). The second character 认 (rèn) means 'to acknowledge' or 'to admit'. Together, they form a compound emphasizing voluntary or compelled acknowledgment of wrongdoing in an institutional context.

This term appears almost exclusively in legal, judicial, or investigative settings—not in casual speech. It implies that the confession is made to authorities and often carries weight as evidence. While similar to ‘承认’ (to admit), ‘供认’ is narrower in scope: it refers specifically to confessions related to unlawful acts, and typically occurs during formal proceedings. Learners should avoid using it for everyday admissions (e.g., admitting a mistake at work), where ‘承认’ or ‘坦白’ would be more appropriate.