公务
Traditional: 公務
gōng wù HSK 6

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

他今天有重要公务。
Tā jīntiān yǒu zhòngyào gōngwù.
He has important official business today.
政府官员处理各种公务。
Zhèngfǔ guānyuán chǔlǐ gèzhǒng gōngwù.
Government officials handle various public affairs.
他因公务去了北京。
Tā yīn gōngwù qùle Běijīng.
He went to Beijing on official business.
他处理公务。
Tā chǔlǐ gōngwù.
He handles official business.
公务很重要。
Gōngwù hěn zhòngyào.
Official duties are important.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 公 (gōng) means 'public' or 'official,' and 务 (wù) means 'affairs' or 'business.' Think of it as 'public affairs'—matters handled by officials for the community. Associate it with formal settings like government offices to reinforce its meaning.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is formal and commonly used in written or official contexts, such as government documents, news reports, or legal settings. It appears in spoken language mainly in formal discussions, like business or administrative meetings. Common contexts include government operations, law enforcement, corporate official duties, or public service.

📖 Grammar Points

公务 is typically used as a noun and often appears in phrases like '执行公务' (to perform official duties) or '公务人员' (public servant). It can be modified by adjectives, e.g., '繁忙的公务' (busy official business), and is commonly paired with verbs related to handling or conducting affairs.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 公务 carries a sense of authority and social responsibility, reflecting the importance of public service and adherence to rules. It is often associated with government efficiency and legal compliance, and interfering with 公务 (e.g., obstructing police) is taken seriously as a legal offense.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar words include 公事 (gōngshì), which also means 'official business' but is slightly less formal and more general, and 职务 (zhíwù), meaning 'job duties' or 'position responsibilities,' which can be broader and include private sector roles. 公务 specifically emphasizes public or state-related affairs.

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