共同

• Pinyin: gòng tóng
• Hanzi breakdown: 共 = two hands together — shared; 同 = 冂 (enclosure) + 口 (mouth) — people speaking as one, hence 'same'

Meaning

Common; joint; shared. Describes something done together or belonging to all parties involved.

Functions as both an adjective (common/shared) and an adverb (together/jointly). As adjective: 共同的目标 (common goal), 共同的爱好 (shared hobby). As adverb: 共同努力 (work together), 共同生活 (live together). Emphasises joint participation or mutual ownership.

Examples

1. 我们有一个共同的目标。 We have a common goal.
2. 这是大家共同努力的结果。 This is the result of everyone's joint effort.
3. 保护环境是我们共同的责任。 Protecting the environment is our shared responsibility.

Usage Guide

Context: work, everyday, formal

Tone: cooperative

Do Say

• 我们有很多共同的朋友。(We have many friends in common.)
• 让我们共同努力吧。(Let's work together.)

Don't Say

• 我共同去了商店。(Don't use 共同 for a single person's action — it requires multiple parties. Say 我自己去了商店 or 我们一起去了商店.)

Origin & History

Compound of 共 (together/shared) and 同 (same/alike). Both characters reinforce the meaning of mutual, shared, or collective.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal