What does 公 mean in Chinese?

公 (gōng) means "public; collectively owned; common; international (e.g. high seas, metric system, calendar); make public; fair; just; Duke, highest of five orders of nobility 五等爵位[wu3 deng3 jue2 wei4]; honorable (gentlemen); father-in-law; male (animal)" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 6.

How do you pronounce 公?

公 is pronounced "gōng" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 公?

公 is an HSK 6 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 公?

Common words with 公 include 不公 (unjust), 不公正 (injustice), 三公消费 (see 三公經費|三公经费[san1 gong1 jing1 fei4]), 三公经费 ("three public expenditures" of the PRC government, i.e. air travel, food and entertainment, and public vehicles), 上市公司 (listed company).

How do you write 公?

公 has 4 strokes. Its radical is 八. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

公 (gōng), public

公

gōng

public; collectively owned; common; international (e.g. high seas, metric system, calendar)

HSK 6 New to HSK4 strokes

Character Breakdown

公 = 八 + 厶

Private becomes divided — public

Radical: 八 (no. 12)Strokes: 4

View stroke order →

Definitions

public
collectively owned
common
international (e.g. high seas, metric system, calendar)
make public
fair
just
Duke, highest of five orders of nobility 五等爵位[wu3 deng3 jue2 wei4]
honorable (gentlemen)
father-in-law
male (animal)

Example Sentences

这是公物，不能私用。

Zhè shì gōngwù, bù néng sīyòng

This is public property and cannot be used privately

Words Containing 公

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
不公	bù gōng	unjust
不公正	bù gōng zhèng	injustice
三公消费	sān gōng xiāo fèi	see 三公經費\|三公经费[san1 gong1 jing1 fei4]
三公经费	sān gōng jīng fèi	"three public expenditures" of the PRC government, i.e. air travel, food and entertainment, and public vehicles
上市公司	shàng shì gōng sī

Related Words

男(nán)· male

→

侯(hóu)· marquis, second of the five orders of ancient Chinese nobility 五等爵位[wu3 deng3 jue2 wei4]

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五等爵位(wǔ děng jué wèi)· five orders of feudal nobility, namely: Duke 公[gong1], Marquis 侯[hou2], Count 伯[bo2], Viscount 子[zi3], Baron 男[nan2]

→

伯(bǎi)· one hundred (old)

→

Grammar Notes

Because/So (因为...所以)HSK 2

因为 + Reason, 所以 + Result

Can/May (能 vs 可以)HSK 2

Subject + 能/可以 + Verb + Object

Existential 有 SentencesHSK 3

Place + 有 + (Number + Measure Word) + Noun

On One Hand (一方面...另一方面)HSK 4

一方面 + Aspect A, 另一方面 + Aspect B

Pivotal Sentence (兼语句)HSK 4

Subject1 + Verb1 + Noun (pivot) + Verb2 + Object2

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 6
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 6 list

公: New to the HSK lists at HSK 6. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 6 exam

Studying for HSK 6? Keep 公 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 6 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.