- Chinese Word
- 公共 (gōnggòng)
- CEFR Level
- A1
- Definition
- public, communal
Alright, let's talk about 公共 (gōnggòng). This is a really common word in Chinese, and you'll hear it all the time. It basically means 'public' or 'communal.' Think of anything that's shared, not private, and accessible to everyone. You'll find it everywhere – from public transportation to public health, and even in daily conversations about shared spaces.
§ 公共 in Daily Life
When you're out and about in China, you'll see 公共 used in many practical ways. For example, when you're looking for a restroom, you'll often see signs for 公共厕所 (gōnggòng cèsuǒ).
请问，公共厕所在哪里？ (Qǐngwèn, gōnggòng cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?)
- Translation hint: Excuse me, where is the public restroom?
It's also used for public transportation, like buses and subways. You'll hear 公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē) for public bus, and you might see signs for 公共交通 (gōnggòng jiāotōng) meaning public transport.
我每天都坐公共汽车上班。 (Wǒ měitiān dōu zuò gōnggòng qìchē shàngbān.)
- Translation hint: I take the public bus to work every day.
§ 公共 in Work and School
In a work or school environment, 公共 still means 'shared' or 'common.' For instance, if you're talking about a public holiday, you'd say 公共假期 (gōnggòng jiàqī).
下周一是一个公共假期。 (Xià zhōuyī shì yī gè gōnggòng jiàqī.)
- Translation hint: Next Monday is a public holiday.
You might also hear it in terms of public services or public affairs, such as 公共服务 (gōnggòng fúwù) for public services, or 公共事业 (gōnggòng shìyè) for public undertakings/utilities. This is common in news or formal discussions.
政府正在改进公共服务。 (Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài gǎijìn gōnggòng fúwù.)
- Translation hint: The government is improving public services.
§ 公共 in the News
News reports often use 公共 to discuss issues that affect everyone. You'll frequently see phrases like 公共安全 (gōnggòng ānquán) for public safety, or 公共卫生 (gōnggòng wèishēng) for public health. These are important concepts that are regularly covered.
保持公共卫生对每个人都很重要。 (Bǎochí gōnggòng wèishēng duì měi ge rén dōu hěn zhòngyào.)
- Translation hint: Maintaining public health is important for everyone.
Another common one is 公共财产 (gōnggòng cáichǎn), meaning public property. This refers to things owned by the government or the community as a whole.
我们应该爱护公共财产。 (Wǒmen yīnggāi àihù gōnggòng cáichǎn.)
- Translation hint: We should protect public property.
So, next time you're reading Chinese news, listening to people talk, or just navigating the city, keep an ear and eye out for 公共. You'll realize how frequently it's used to describe things that are for everyone.
How Formal Is It?
"公共场所请勿吸烟。(Smoking is not allowed in public places.)"
"我们需要乘坐公共汽车去那里。(We need to take a public bus to get there.)"
"这是大家的地方，请爱护。(This is everyone's place, please take care of it.)"
"这是大家一起玩的地方。(This is a place where everyone plays together.)"
"这是公家的东西，不能随便拿。(This is public property, you can't just take it.)"
Difficulty Rating
Common characters, simple structure.
Common characters, simple strokes.
Two common characters, standard tones.
Clear pronunciation, often heard in daily conversation.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
公共 can be used as an adjective before a noun to describe something as public or communal.
公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē) - public bus
It can be used to describe spaces or services that are for everyone.
公共厕所 (gōnggòng cèsuǒ) - public restroom
It often appears in fixed phrases related to public infrastructure.
公共交通 (gōnggòng jiāotōng) - public transport
When used before a noun, it emphasizes that the noun belongs to or is accessible to the general public, not a private entity.
公共图书馆 (gōnggòng túshūguǎn) - public library
It can be used in contrast with '私人' (sīrén) meaning 'private'.
公共财产 (gōnggòng cáichǎn) - public property (vs. 私人财产 sīrén cáichǎn - private property)
Examples by Level
这个公园是公共的，所有人都可以来。
This park is public; everyone can come.
我们需要更多的公共交通来减少交通堵塞。
We need more public transportation to reduce traffic jams.
请注意公共场合的卫生。
Please pay attention to hygiene in public places.
图书馆是一个公共的学习空间。
The library is a public study space.
他喜欢在公共泳池游泳。
He likes to swim in public swimming pools.
公共汽车站就在街对面。
The bus stop is right across the street.
这是公共财产，请大家爱护。
This is public property; everyone please take care of it.
我们有一个公共厨房，大家一起做饭。
We have a communal kitchen; everyone cooks together.
我们应该爱护公共设施。
We should protect public facilities.
这个公园对公众开放。
This park is open to the public.
请注意公共卫生。
Please pay attention to public hygiene.
公共交通很方便。
Public transportation is very convenient.
这是一个公共场所，请保持安静。
This is a public place, please keep quiet.
我们国家的公共服务很好。
Our country's public services are good.
公共图书馆有很多书。
Public libraries have many books.
他为公共利益工作。
He works for the public interest.
我们应该爱护公共设施。
We should cherish public facilities.
公共场所禁止吸烟。
Smoking is prohibited in public places.
乘坐公共交通工具出行更环保。
Taking public transportation is more environmentally friendly.
他热心公共事务，经常参与社区活动。
He is enthusiastic about public affairs and often participates in community activities.
公共图书馆藏书丰富，深受读者欢迎。
The public library has a rich collection of books and is popular with readers.
我们有权知道公共资金的去向。
We have the right to know where public funds go.
公共卫生是社会发展的重要组成部分。
Public health is an important part of social development.
保持公共环境整洁是每个公民的责任。
Maintaining a clean public environment is every citizen's responsibility.
Often Confused With
A common phrase meaning 'public bus.' This directly uses '公共' to describe a shared mode of transportation.
Meaning 'public place.' Another frequent usage where '公共' defines a shared space.
Meaning 'public facilities.' This illustrates how '公共' modifies infrastructure for general use.
Idioms & Expressions
"公共场所 (gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ)"
public place
请勿在公共场所吸烟。(Please do not smoke in public places.)
neutral"公共交通 (gōnggòng jiāotōng)"
public transportation
我每天坐公共交通上班。(I take public transportation to work every day.)
neutral"公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē)"
public bus
公共汽车站就在我家门口。(The bus stop is right outside my door.)
neutral"公共服务 (gōnggòng fúwù)"
public service
提供良好的公共服务是政府的责任。(Providing good public services is the government's responsibility.)
neutral"公共事业 (gōnggòng shìyè)"
public utilities/undertakings
电力和水是公共事业。(Electricity and water are public utilities.)
neutral"公共关系 (gōnggòng guānxì)"
public relations
他从事公共关系工作。(He works in public relations.)
neutral"公共卫生 (gōnggòng wèishēng)"
public health
改善公共卫生对所有人都有好处。(Improving public health is good for everyone.)
neutral"公共财产 (gōnggòng cáichǎn)"
public property
我们应该爱护公共财产。(We should protect public property.)
neutral"公共假期 (gōnggòng jiàqī)"
public holiday
下周一是个公共假期。(Next Monday is a public holiday.)
neutral"公共领域 (gōnggòng lǐngyù)"
public domain
这本书已经进入公共领域。(This book has entered the public domain.)
neutralEasily Confused
Both '公共' and '公开' relate to being open or accessible, leading to confusion about their specific applications. '公开' can be an adjective or a verb, which adds to the complexity.
'公开' means 'publicly known,' 'open,' or 'to make public.' It emphasizes transparency, revelation, or making something available for everyone to see or know, often in a less tangible sense. '公共' focuses on shared ownership, use, or provision for a community.
这个信息应该向大众公开。 (Zhège xìnxī yīnggāi xiàng dàzhòng gōngkāi.) This information should be made public to the masses.
Both words involve a sense of 'shared' or 'together,' making it tricky to distinguish when to use each.
'共同' means 'common,' 'joint,' or 'together.' It describes things that are shared or done by multiple individuals or groups. While '公共' refers to things belonging to or serving the public, '共同' describes shared characteristics, efforts, or experiences among people.
他们有共同的爱好。 (Tāmen yǒu gòngtóng de àihào.) They have common hobbies.
Both terms relate to the 'public,' causing confusion about whether they are interchangeable.
'公众' is a noun meaning 'the public' or 'the general public.' It refers to the people as a collective. '公共' is an adjective modifying a noun, describing something that belongs to or serves this public.
公众对这个事件非常关注。 (Gōngzhòng duì zhège shìjiàn fēicháng guānzhù.) The public is very concerned about this incident.
Both '公共' and '公用' refer to something for general use, making their distinction subtle.
'公用' means 'for public use' or 'publicly owned.' It often implies something that is shared and used by many people. While similar to '公共,' '公用' often has a stronger emphasis on the *function* of being shared for use. For example, '公共厕所' and '公用厕所' are often interchangeable, but '公共交通' is more common than '公用交通' because it's a broader system, not just a shared item.
这是公用电话。 (Zhè shì gōngyòng diànhuà.) This is a public telephone.
Both refer to a large group of people, making it easy to mix them up.
'大众' is a noun meaning 'the masses' or 'the general public.' Similar to '公众,' it refers to people in general. '公共' describes things that are related to or for these masses. You would say '公共服务' (public services) but not '大众服务' in the same way.
这个产品很受大众欢迎。 (Zhège chǎnpǐn hěn shòu dàzhòng huānyíng.) This product is very popular with the masses.
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Tips
Basic Meaning of 公共
公共 (gōnggòng) primarily means public or communal. Think of things that are shared by everyone or belong to the community.
Common Phrases with 公共
You'll often hear 公共 in phrases like 公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē) for public bus, or 公共场所 (gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ) for public place.
Using 公共 with Transportation
When talking about transportation, 公共 is frequently used. For example, 公共交通 (gōnggòng jiāotōng) means public transportation.
公共 for Utilities
You can also use 公共 when referring to public utilities or services. Like 公共卫生 (gōnggòng wèishēng) which means public health.
Distinguishing from 私人 (sīrén)
The opposite of 公共 (public) is 私人 (sīrén), meaning private. This helps solidify the meaning of 公共.
Sentence Example: Public Park
这是一个公共公园。(Zhè shì yīgè gōnggòng gōngyuán.) This is a public park.
Sentence Example: Public Restroom
请问公共厕所在哪里？(Qǐngwèn gōnggòng cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?) Excuse me, where is the public restroom?
Sentence Example: Public Interest
这是为了公共利益。(Zhè shì wèile gōnggòng lìyì.) This is for the public interest.
Common Mistake: Not using it for 'open'
While 公共 implies accessibility, it's not the word for 'open' in the sense of a door or shop. Use 开 (kāi) for that.
Practice with Daily Objects
Look around you and try to identify things that are public in your environment. How would you say 'public library' or 'public school'?
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a **gong gong** (公共) show, open to the **public**, with everyone joining in. 'Gong' sounds a bit like 'public,' right?
Visual Association
Picture a huge gong in a town square, and people from all walks of life, the **public**, are gathered around it. The gong symbolizes '公共' (gōnggòng).
Word Web
Challenge
Think about things you encounter every day that are 'public.' For example, a public park, a public restroom, or a public holiday. Try to say '公共' before each one in Chinese. (e.g., 公共公园 (gōnggòng gōngyuán) - public park)
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
公共场所 (gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ) - public place
- 在公共场所请勿吸烟。(Zài gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ qǐng wù xīyān.) - Please do not smoke in public places.
- 这个公共场所很干净。(Zhège gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ hěn gānjìng.) - This public place is very clean.
- 我们应该爱护公共场所。(Wǒmen yīnggāi àihù gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ.) - We should protect public places.
公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē) - public bus
- 我每天坐公共汽车上班。(Wǒ měitiān zuò gōnggòng qìchē shàngbān.) - I take the public bus to work every day.
- 公共汽车站离这里很近。(Gōnggòng qìchē zhàn lí zhèlǐ hěn jìn.) - The public bus stop is very close to here.
- 这趟公共汽车开往市中心。(Zhè tàng gōnggòng qìchē kāi wǎng shì zhōngxīn.) - This public bus goes to the city center.
公共设施 (gōnggòng shèshī) - public facilities
- 政府投资建设了很多公共设施。(Zhèngfǔ tóuzī jiànshè le hěn duō gōnggòng shèshī.) - The government invested in building many public facilities.
- 公共设施的维护很重要。(Gōnggòng shèshī de wéihù hěn zhòngyào.) - The maintenance of public facilities is very important.
- 这些公共设施方便了市民的生活。(Zhè xiē gōnggòng shèshī fāngbiàn le shìmín de shēnghuó.) - These public facilities have made citizens' lives more convenient.
公共卫生间 (gōnggòng wèishēngjiān) - public restroom
- 请问公共卫生间在哪里？(Qǐngwèn gōnggòng wèishēngjiān zài nǎlǐ?) - Excuse me, where is the public restroom?
- 这个商场的公共卫生间很干净。(Zhège shāngchǎng de gōnggòng wèishēngjiān hěn gānjìng.) - The public restrooms in this mall are very clean.
- 我们需要保持公共卫生间的清洁。(Wǒmen xūyào bǎochí gōnggòng wèishēngjiān de qīngjié.) - We need to keep public restrooms clean.
公共假日 (gōnggòng jiàrì) - public holiday
- 下周有一个公共假日。(Xià zhōu yǒu yīgè gōnggòng jiàrì.) - There's a public holiday next week.
- 公共假日期间，很多人会出去旅行。(Gōnggòng jiàrì qíjiān, hěn duō rén huì chūqù lǚxíng.) - During public holidays, many people travel.
- 你公共假日有什么计划吗？(Nǐ gōnggòng jiàrì yǒu shénme jìhuà ma?) - Do you have any plans for the public holiday?
Conversation Starters
"你觉得哪些公共场所最重要？(Nǐ juédé nǎxiē gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ zuì zhòngyào?) - Which public places do you think are most important?"
"你经常乘坐公共汽车吗？(Nǐ jīngcháng chéngzuò gōnggòng qìchē ma?) - Do you often take public buses?"
"你们国家有哪些著名的公共设施？(Nǐmen guójiā yǒu nǎxiē zhùmíng de gōnggòng shèshī?) - What famous public facilities are there in your country?"
"你对公共卫生间的卫生状况有什么看法？(Nǐ duì gōnggòng wèishēngjiān de wèishēng zhuàngkuàng yǒu shénme kànfǎ?) - What's your opinion on the cleanliness of public restrooms?"
"你喜欢在公共假日做什么？(Nǐ xǐhuān zài gōnggòng jiàrì zuò shénme?) - What do you like to do on public holidays?"
Journal Prompts
描述一个你最喜欢的公共场所，以及你喜欢它的原因。(Miáoshù yīgè nǐ zuì xǐhuān de gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ, yǐjí nǐ xǐhuān tā de yuányīn.) - Describe your favorite public place and why you like it.
写下你最近一次乘坐公共汽车的经历。(Xiě xià nǐ zuìjìn yīcì chéngzuò gōnggòng qìchē de jīnglì.) - Write about your most recent experience taking a public bus.
思考一下公共设施在城市生活中扮演的角色。(Sīkǎo yīxià gōnggòng shèshī zài chéngshì shēnghuó zhōng bànyǎn de juésè.) - Reflect on the role of public facilities in city life.
如果你能改善一个公共卫生间，你会怎么做？(Rúguǒ nǐ néng gǎishàn yīgè gōnggòng wèishēngjiān, nǐ huì zěnme zuò?) - If you could improve one public restroom, what would you do?
计划一个完美的公共假日，你会去哪里？和谁一起？做什么？(Jìhuà yīgè wánměi de gōnggòng jiàrì, nǐ huì qù nǎlǐ? Hé shuí yīqǐ? Zuò shénme?) - Plan a perfect public holiday. Where would you go? With whom? What would you do?
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions公共 (gōnggòng) means 'public' or 'communal'. Think of things that are for everyone, not just one person.
Yes, absolutely! You can say 公共公园 (gōnggòng gōngyuán) for 'public park'.
That's a perfect use case. It's 公共交通 (gōnggòng jiāotōng).
Yes, for sure! It's 公共厕所 (gōnggòng cèsuǒ).
It's very similar to 'public' in English. It refers to something that is open to and shared by all members of a community or society.
Not usually in that specific context. For a public figure, you might use different terms like 'celebrity' or 'well-known person'. 公共 is more about shared spaces or services.
Yes, 公共 usually goes before the noun it modifies. Like 公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē) 'public bus'.
Sure! 我们坐公共汽车去学校。 (Wǒmen zuò gōnggòng qìchē qù xuéxiào.) - 'We take the public bus to school.'
It can overlap, but 公共 specifically emphasizes 'public access' or 'shared by the community'. 'Common' can sometimes just mean 'frequent' or 'ordinary'.
Yes, a very common one is 公共场所 (gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ) which means 'public place'.
Test Yourself 42 questions
这个图书馆是___的。
Here, '公共' (gōnggòng) means 'public,' so '公共图书馆' means 'public library.'
我们去___公园玩吧。
'公共公园' (gōnggòng gōngyuán) means 'public park.'
请不要在___场所吸烟。
'公共场所' (gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ) means 'public places.'
他坐___汽车去上班。
'公共汽车' (gōnggòng qìchē) means 'public bus.'
这是大家的，是___的。
If something belongs to everyone, it is '公共' (gōnggòng) or 'public.'
这个城市有很多___设施。
'公共设施' (gōnggòng shèshī) refers to 'public facilities.'
Which of these means 'public toilet'?
公共 (gōnggòng) means public, and 厕所 (cèsuǒ) means toilet.
If you want to say 'public park', which Chinese phrase is correct?
公园 (gōngyuán) already means park. Adding 公共 (gōnggòng) emphasizes it's a public one.
Which word is the opposite of 'private'?
公共 (gōnggòng) means public, while 私人 (sīrén) means private.
公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē) means 'public car'.
公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē) literally means 'public bus', where 汽车 (qìchē) can mean car or vehicle in general.
You can use 公共 (gōnggòng) to describe your own personal computer.
公共 (gōnggòng) means public or communal, so it wouldn't be used for a personal item.
A 公共图书馆 (gōnggòng túshūguǎn) is a library that everyone can use.
公共 (gōnggòng) means public, and 图书馆 (túshūguǎn) is library. So, a public library.
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 这个问题在_____场合讨论不太合适。
公共 (gōnggòng) means 'public'. The sentence means 'It's not appropriate to discuss this issue in public.'
Which of the following describes something 'public'?
公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē) means 'public bus', indicating something used by many people.
Fill in the blank: 我们应该爱护_____设施。
公共设施 (gōnggòng shèshī) means 'public facilities'. The sentence means 'We should take care of public facilities.'
Statement: 博物馆是一个公共场所。
博物馆 (bówùguǎn) means 'museum', which is a public place open to everyone. So, 'A museum is a public place' is true.
Statement: '公共电话' 指的是一部只有你一个人能用的电话。
公共电话 (gōnggòng diànhuà) means 'public phone', which is a phone available for anyone to use, not just one person. So, the statement 'A public phone refers to a phone only you can use' is false.
Statement: 在公共场合大声说话是不礼貌的。
公共场合 (gōnggòng chǎnghé) means 'public occasion/place'. The statement means 'Speaking loudly in public is impolite', which is generally true in many cultures.
This sentence means 'The park is a public place.' 我们 (wǒmen - we) is the subject, 可以 (kěyǐ - can) indicates ability, 在 (zài - at) is a preposition, 公园 (gōngyuán - park) is the location, 跑步 (pǎobù - run) is the action.
This sentence translates to 'The library is a public place.' 图书馆 (túshūguǎn - library) is the subject, 是 (shì - is) is the verb, 公共 (gōnggòng - public) modifies 地方 (dìfang - place).
This sentence means 'This is a public restroom.' 这个 (zhège - this) is the subject, 是 (shì - is) is the verb, and 公共厕所 (gōnggòng cèsuǒ - public restroom) is the object.
This sentence means 'This is a public library.' The word '公共' (gōnggòng) acts as an adjective modifying '图书馆' (túshūguǎn, library). '的' (de) is a possessive particle connecting the adjective to the noun.
This sentence translates to 'We need more public spaces.' '公共' (gōnggòng) describes '空间' (kōngjiān, space), and '的' (de) connects them.
This means 'Please pay attention to public etiquette.' '公共' (gōnggòng) modifies '场合' (chǎnghé, occasion/place), and '的' (de) serves as a link.
这座城市需要更多的___空间，比如公园和广场。
The sentence talks about needing more spaces like parks and squares, which are 'public' spaces.
为了提高服务质量，我们应该积极听取___的意见和建议。
Here, '公众' refers to the 'public' or general populace whose opinions are sought to improve service quality.
请注意，在___场合吸烟是被禁止的。
Smoking is prohibited in 'public' places, implying shared spaces accessible to many people.
这部电影在上映后引起了广泛的___讨论。
The movie sparked widespread 'public' discussion, indicating that it was a topic of conversation among many people.
维护___秩序是每个公民的责任。
Maintaining 'public' order is a civic duty, referring to the order in shared community spaces.
公司决定将部分收益用于回馈___。
The company decided to give back to 'society', which aligns with the broader concept of 'public' benefit.
This public library has a rich collection of books and first-class facilities, making it a great place for citizens to study and relax.
To promote the convenience of public transportation, the city government plans to add more bus routes in the urban area.
Protecting public environmental hygiene is the responsibility of every citizen, and we should start from ourselves.
Read this aloud:
公共场所吸烟不仅危害他人健康，也违反了相关法规。
Focus: 公共 (gōnggòng)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
他致力于公共服务事业，为社区居民解决了不少实际问题。
Focus: 服务 (fúwù)
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Read this aloud:
在公共场合大声喧哗是不礼貌的行为，会影响到其他人。
Focus: 喧哗 (xuānhuá)
You said:
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/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
Basic Meaning of 公共
公共 (gōnggòng) primarily means public or communal. Think of things that are shared by everyone or belong to the community.
Common Phrases with 公共
You'll often hear 公共 in phrases like 公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē) for public bus, or 公共场所 (gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ) for public place.
Using 公共 with Transportation
When talking about transportation, 公共 is frequently used. For example, 公共交通 (gōnggòng jiāotōng) means public transportation.
公共 for Utilities
You can also use 公共 when referring to public utilities or services. Like 公共卫生 (gōnggòng wèishēng) which means public health.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More general words
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
一点儿
A1a little, a bit
一会儿
A1a moment, a while
一部分
B1part; portion; minority
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
