Definition
公 (gōng) has three adjective senses: 'public' (prefixed to nouns like 公费 'public funds'), 'fair' (as in 公平), and 'male (animal)' (e.g., 公牛 'bull'). Unlike 公共 (gōnggòng), which is a separate adjective for 'communal, public' (e.g., 公共场合), 公 is a bound prefix in compounds. For male animals, use 公; for male humans, use 男 (nán).
adjective
publiccommoncollectively ownedfairjustmale (used before animal names)
Easily confused
- 共gòngsound-alike(adverb) in total, altogether (used before a number to indicate the sum)
- 供gōngsound-aliketo provide, to supply
- 宫gōngsound-alikepalace
- 攻gōngsound-aliketo attack (physically)
- 功gōngsound-alikeachievement; meritorious deed; contribution
- 弓gōngsound-alike(noun) bow (weapon)
- 拱gǒngsound-aliketo arch (the back, a bridge, etc.)
Examples
- 。Wǒmen zuò gōng gòng qìchē qù xuéxiào.We take a public bus to school.
- ，。Cáipàn hěn gōng píng, dàjiā dōu xìnrèn tā.The referee is very fair; everyone trusts him.
- 。Nà tóu gōng niú shì wǒ jiā de.That bull belongs to my family.
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