公开信

• Pinyin: gōng kāi xìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 公开 = open, public; 信 = 亻 + 言 (letter, trust)

Meaning

Open letter. A letter addressed to a specific person or organisation but intentionally made available to the public, often to voice criticism, appeals, or demands.

A genre of formal public discourse used by individuals, scholars, or groups to express grievances or proposals on matters of public concern. Carries moral and political weight; publishing one implies the author expects public scrutiny.

Examples

1. 数位学者联名发表公开信，呼吁修订相关法律条文。 Several scholars co-signed an open letter calling for revisions to the relevant legal provisions.
2. 他向公司管理层写了一封公开信，揭露内部的违规行为。 He wrote an open letter to the company’s management exposing internal violations.
3. 这封公开信在网上迅速传播，引起社会广泛关注。 The open letter quickly spread online, drawing widespread public attention.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, civil society, media

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 该机构发表公开信，对政府的决策提出质疑。(The organisation published an open letter questioning the government's decision.)
• 公开信一经发布，便受到国内外媒体的广泛报道。(Once published, the open letter received extensive coverage from both domestic and international media.)

Don't Say

• 公开信 for a simple announcement — use 声明 or 公告; 公开信 specifically implies personal addressee + public audience

Origin & History

公开 (open/public) + 信 (letter)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Intellectual and professional