Definitions
(adjective)
public; common
(adjective)
fair; just
(noun)
duke; noble title
(noun)
father-in-law
(adjective)
male (for animals)
Etymology
Pictograph of a earthen jar for holding liquid, now written as 瓮. The current meaning "public" is a phonetic loan.
About
The character "公" derives from the combination of "八", representing division, and "厶", denoting private affairs, which together originally conveyed the idea of apportioning private resources for collective benefit. Its structural arrangement has remained consistent, reflecting this foundational concept. Over time, the meaning shifted from specifically indicating fairness and the communal sphere to also encompassing noble titles and abstract notions of justice, thereby serving as a core component in many words related to public life and impartiality.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
公司派他去出差。
公园里的花开得很美。
请大家保持公共场所清洁。
他们正在讨论公司的公平政策。
公民有依法纳税的义务。
公交系统为市民提供了便利。
这位公主以其仁慈和智慧闻名。
在处理纠纷时，他始终秉持公心。