公 means “public, official”

こう · kou

Also: prince, governmental

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

おおやけ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

コウ, ク

Taught in grade 2 · 4 strokes

The story

Something divided (八) and shared equally (厶 inverted): what belongs to everyone. Japanese 公園 (parks) are immaculately maintained because 公 means "for all." The concept extends from public baths to public duty.

Used in 公園 (kouen, park) and 公平 (kouhei, fair/impartial)

More from Society & Government

• 私 private
• 世 world
• 界 world
• 国 country
• 王 king
• 法 law
• 政 politics
• 民 people
• 族 tribe
• 都 capital
• 市 city
• 町 town

Learn 公 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.