公开

• Pinyin: gōng kāi
• Hanzi breakdown: 公 = 八 (divide) + 厶 (private, inverted) — public; 开 = simplified from 開, a hand removing a bar from a door — to open

Meaning

Open; public; to make public. Describes transparency or the act of revealing information openly.

Functions as both an adjective (open/public) and a verb (to disclose/reveal). As an adjective: 公开的信息 (public information), 公开课 (demonstration class). As a verb: 公开秘密 (reveal a secret), 公开声明 (make a public statement). Emphasises transparency and openness.

Examples

1. 这次会议是公开的，谁都可以参加。 This meeting is open — anyone can attend.
2. 她不想公开自己的私人生活。 She doesn't want to make her private life public.
3. 老师今天上了一节公开课。 The teacher gave a demonstration class today.

Usage Guide

Context: news, official, everyday

Tone: transparent

Do Say

• 这个信息已经公开了。(This information has already been made public.)
• 公司决定公开招聘新员工。(The company decided to openly recruit new employees.)

Don't Say

• 请公开那扇门。(Don't use 公开 to mean physically opening a door — it means to reveal or make public. Say 请打开那扇门.)

Origin & History

Compound of 公 (public) and 开 (to open). Together they mean 'to open to the public' or 'publicly accessible.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal