公关

• Pinyin: gōng guān
• Hanzi breakdown: 公 = 八 + 厶 (public); 关 = 关 simplified (relations, connection)

Meaning

Public relations (PR). The professional management of communication between an organisation and the public to build or maintain a positive image.

Widely used in business, politics, and media. 公关 can also be used colloquially to mean lobbying or schmoozing to get something done (做公关). Companies hire 公关公司 (PR firms) to manage crises or brand campaigns.

Examples

1. 这家企业专门聘请了公关团队处理舆论危机。 The company hired a PR team specifically to handle a public opinion crisis.
2. 他擅长公关，在业界人脉极广。 He’s good at public relations and has an extensive network in the industry.
3. 新产品上市前，公司制定了详尽的公关方案。 Before the new product launch, the company developed a detailed PR plan.

Usage Guide

Context: business, media, politics

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 事件曝光后，公司立即启动公关应对机制。(After the incident became public, the company immediately activated its PR response mechanism.)
• 优秀的公关策略能有效提升品牌的社会形象。(An excellent PR strategy can effectively enhance a brand's public image.)

Don't Say

• 公关 in contexts implying bribery without qualification — clarify with 合规公关 (compliant PR) to avoid ambiguity

Origin & History

公 (public) + 关 (relations/connections) — abbreviation of 公共关系

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Millennials and above

Social background: Professional