Japanese Conversation · Level 73
75 words
Japanese word
公
Pronunciation
Romajiōyake
Meaning
- nounpublic
Example
その知らせを公にします。so no shi ra se o ōyake ni shi ma su
I will make the news public.
More examples
情報はまだ公になっていません。jō hō wa ma da ōyake ni na tte i ma se n
The information has not become public yet.
Core concept
Moves attention from private interests to the public realm and the institutions that represent it.
Common phrases
公になるōyake ni na ru
become public
公にするōyake ni su ru
make public
公の場ōyake no ba
public setting
Similar words
公共kōkyō: A sphere, service, or interest shared by the members of a society.
公衆kōshū: People viewed collectively as an audience or the general population.
世間seken: Society regarded as the surrounding community and its opinions.
Definition in Japanese
個人の所有や私的関係から離れ、広く社会に関わること。また、国家や自治体などの公的な立場や機関。ko jin no sho yū ya shi teki kan kei ka ra hana re hiro ku sha kai ni kaka wa ru ko to ma ta kok ka ya ji chi tai na do no kō teki na tachi ba ya ki kan
Word origin
The Japanese word 公 (ōyake, "public") is associated with 大宅 (ōyake, "large residence"), an old term for the ruler's residence, and later came to cover the ruler's sphere and public affairs.
Usage tips
- 公 (ōyake) can refer to a government body as well as the public sphere, so context determines whether public means an audience or an official institution.