Meaning and Usage
The character 公 (gōng) primarily means "public," "fair," or "male (animal)." It is often used to indicate something related to the public or fairness, such as 公平 (fairness) or 公正 (justice). It also denotes the male gender in animals, for example, 公狗 (male dog).
Common Collocations
- 公共 (gōnggòng): public, communal, used for public facilities or services.
- 公平 (gōngpíng): fairness, impartiality, often used in social or legal contexts.
- 公园 (gōngyuán): public park, a common place for leisure.
- 公鸡 (gōngjī): rooster, male chicken.
Usage Notes
When used to describe animals, 公 specifically means male, contrasting with 母 (mǔ) for female. In social contexts, 公 emphasizes fairness or something belonging to the public rather than private. It is a formal character often seen in compound words rather than alone in casual speech.
Common Confusion
公 can be confused with 公共, which specifically means "public" in the sense of shared or communal. Remember 公 alone can mean male or fairness, so context is key to understanding its meaning.