公断 (gōng duàn) — to arbitrate

Definition

公断 (gōng duàn) means 'to arbitrate' — an impartial third party (expert or court) settles a dispute between two sides. It emphasizes the fairness and authority of the ruling, rather than private negotiation.

verb
to arbitrate

Examples

  • 公断。
    Tā men qǐng le yí wèi zhuān jiā lái gōng duàn zhè ge jiū fēn.
    They invited an expert to arbitrate this dispute.
  • 公断。
    Zhè ge àn zi yǐ jīng yóu fǎ yuàn gōng duàn le.
    This case has already been arbitrated by the court.
  • 公断。
    Shuāng fāng tóng yì gōng duàn zhè ge zhēng yì.
    Both sides agree to arbitrate this dispute.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

公gōngjust
断duànjudge

公 means just, and 断 means to judge, so 公断 is to arbitrate.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

One theory sees 公 as a picture of a wide-mouthed, round-bottomed jar.

Open 公 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

Open 断 →

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