公务

• Pinyin: gōng wù
• Hanzi breakdown: 公 = public; 务 = 力 + 攵 + 力 — duty, task, affairs

Meaning

Official duties; public service tasks. Activities carried out in one's official capacity on behalf of a government body or public institution.

More specifically governmental than 公事. Common collocations include 公务员 (civil servant), 公务出行 (official travel), and 公务接待 (official reception). 执行公务 (executing official duties) is a standard legal phrase. Holders of public positions use 公务 to describe activities done in their official role.

Examples

1. 大使正在外地执行公务，无法按时出席新闻发布会。 The ambassador is out of town on official duty and can't attend the press conference on time.
2. 公务人员出差须严格按照规定标准申报差旅费用。 Government employees on official travel must file their travel expenses strictly according to the approved standards.
3. 他以执行公务为由，要求进入管控区域开展现场检查。 Citing official duties, he requested access to the controlled area to carry out an on-site inspection.

Usage Guide

Context: government, administration, official duties

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 公务员在执行公务时须依法依规办事。(Civil servants must act in accordance with laws and regulations when carrying out official duties.)
• 公务车只能用于公务，不得挪作私用。(Official vehicles may only be used for official duties and must not be appropriated for personal use.)

Don't Say

• 用'公务'替代'公事'在非政府语境中 — 公务 is specifically governmental or institutional; use 公事 or 工作 for non-governmental professional work

Origin & History

公 (official/public) + 务 (duty/task)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Civil servants and officials