公函

• Pinyin: gōng hán
• Hanzi breakdown: 公 = 八 + 厶 (official); 函 = 凵 + 肀 (letter, container for documents)

Meaning

Official letter; formal correspondence. A written communication issued by a government body, institution, or organisation on behalf of that entity.

Distinct from personal letters, 公函 carry official authority and are used for inter-agency requests, notifications, and formal inquiries. They follow a strict format with letterhead, reference numbers, and official seals.

Examples

1. 市政府向相关部门发出了一份公函，要求限期整改。 The city government sent an official letter to the relevant departments, requiring them to complete corrective actions within a set deadline.
2. 学校收到教育局的公函，通知下周接受年度检查。 The school received an official letter from the Education Bureau, notifying it that it would undergo an annual inspection next week.
3. 合作意向须先以公函形式提出，方可进入审核流程。 An intention to cooperate must first be submitted in the form of an official letter before it can enter the review process.

Usage Guide

Context: government, administration, legal

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请以公函形式将贵单位的意见书面提交。(Please submit your organisation's opinion in the form of an official letter.)
• 收到上级单位公函后，须在五个工作日内作出回复。(Upon receiving an official letter from a superior authority, a response must be made within five working days.)

Don't Say

• 公函 for informal internal memos — use 通知 or 备忘录 instead

Origin & History

公 (official/public) + 函 (letter/correspondence)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Working adults

Social background: Professional