公墓

• Pinyin: gōng mù
• Hanzi breakdown: 公 = 八 + 厶 (public); 墓 = 莫 + 土 (grave, tomb)

Meaning

Public cemetery; memorial park. A burial ground maintained by local authorities or an institution, open to the general public.

In China, 公墓 are regulated by the government due to land scarcity. Cemetery plots are often expensive in major cities. During Qingming Festival (清明节), families visit public cemeteries to pay respects to the deceased.

Examples

1. 清明节前后，市郊公墓人流如织，车辆堵塞严重。 Around Qingming Festival, the public cemetery in the suburbs was packed with visitors, and traffic was badly backed up.
2. 政府鼓励市民选择节地生态葬，减轻公墓资源压力。 The government encourages residents to choose eco-friendly burials that use less land to ease pressure on cemetery resources.
3. 她每年都会前往公墓祭扫父母的墓地。 Every year she goes to the cemetery to pay respects at her parents’ graves.

Usage Guide

Context: funerary culture, civil administration, traditional customs

Tone: solemn

Do Say

• 该公墓环境整洁，管理规范，深受市民认可。(The cemetery is well maintained and managed in an orderly manner, highly regarded by residents.)
• 购买公墓墓穴需提前向相关部门申请备案。(Purchasing a plot in a public cemetery requires prior registration with the relevant authorities.)

Don't Say

• 公墓 for a private family burial plot — use 家族墓地 or 私人墓地

Origin & History

公 (public) + 墓 (grave/tomb)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal