公共

• Pinyin: gōng gòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 公 = 八 (divide) + 厶 (private, inverted) — opposite of private; 共 = two hands together, meaning 'shared'

Meaning

Public; communal. Describes things, places, or services shared by and available to everyone.

Used to describe facilities, spaces, or services that belong to or are shared by the general public rather than private individuals. Very common in compound nouns: 公共汽车 (public bus), 公共厕所 (public toilet), 公共场所 (public place), 公共交通 (public transport).

Examples

1. 请不要在公共场所大声说话。 Please don't speak loudly in public places.
2. 这座城市的公共交通非常方便。 Public transport in this city is very convenient.
3. 图书馆是一个重要的公共设施。 The library is an important public facility.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, urban, services

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这附近有公共卫生间吗？(Is there a public restroom nearby?)
• 公共场所禁止吸烟。(Smoking is prohibited in public places.)

Don't Say

• 这是我的公共手机。(Don't use 公共 for personal items — it means shared by the public. Say 这是我的手机 or 这是公用手机 for a shared phone.)

Origin & History

Compound of 公 (public/official) and 共 (together/shared). Both characters reinforce the idea of collective access and shared use.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal