公仆

• Pinyin: gōng pú
• Hanzi breakdown: 公 = 八 + 厶 (public); 仆 = 亻 + 仆 (servant, attendant)

Meaning

Public servant; servant of the people. A government official or civil servant, emphasising their role as someone who serves the public rather than ruling over them.

A politically charged term in Chinese discourse. Officials are expected to identify as 人民公仆 (servants of the people), a concept central to the Communist Party's legitimacy narrative. Invoking this term in criticism implies an official has failed their duty.

Examples

1. 领导干部应牢记自己是人民公仆，而非特权阶层。 Leading officials should remember that they are public servants, not a privileged class.
2. 这位官员以公仆精神赢得了当地百姓的广泛爱戴。 This official won widespread affection among local residents through a genuine spirit of public service.
3. 批评者指出，部分官员早已忘记了公仆的本分。 Critics pointed out that some officials have long forgotten their duty as public servants.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, government, civic discourse

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 每一位政府工作人员都应以公仆精神对待群众。(Every government worker should serve the public with the spirit of a true public servant.)
• 人民公仆不应将公权力变为谋取私利的工具。(Public servants of the people must not turn official power into a tool for personal gain.)

Don't Say

• 公仆 sarcastically without context — in formal writing it is a sincere and politically significant designation

Origin & History

公 (public/people) + 仆 (servant)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern (PRC)

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal