公众

• Pinyin: gōng zhòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 公 = public; 众 = three 人 stacked, meaning crowd or masses

Meaning

The public; the general public. People as a collective group.

Refers to people in general, especially in relation to public affairs: 公众人物 (public figure), 公众意见 (public opinion), 公众利益 (public interest), 公众号 (WeChat public account). Often appears in news, politics, and discussions about social responsibility.

Examples

1. 作为公众人物，他的一言一行都受到社会的关注。 As a public figure, his every word and action receives attention from society.
2. 政府应该及时向公众发布准确的信息。 The government should promptly release accurate information to the public.
3. 这项政策的制定需要广泛听取公众的意见。 The formulation of this policy requires extensive input from the public.

Usage Guide

Context: news, politics, social issues

Tone: official

Do Say

• 这是公众关心的问题。(This is an issue the public cares about.)
• 向公众道歉。(Apologize to the public.)

Don't Say

• 日常口语用公众代替'大家' (In casual speech, use 大家 or 人们 — 公众 is more formal)

Origin & History

Compound of 公 (public) + 众 (crowd, masses). 众 shows three people (人人人 simplified to 众), meaning 'many people.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal