Chinese word

公函

Pronunciation

Pinyingōng hán

Meaning

  • nounofficial letter

Example

公函已经寄出，请注意查收。gōng hán yǐ jīng jì chū qǐng zhù yì chá shōu

The official letter has already been sent; please look out for it.

Illustration for 公函 (official letter)

More examples

各部门应对收到的公函及时回复。gè bù mén yìng duì shōu dào de gōng hán jí shí huí fù

Each department should reply promptly to the official letters it receives.

Core concept

A formal written communication that carries an organization's message through institutional channels.

Common phrases

  • 签署公函qiān shǔ gōng hán

    sign an official letter

  • 递交公函dì jiāo gōng hán

    submit an official letter

  • 归档公函guī dàng gōng hán

    file an official letter

Similar words

公文gōng wén: An official document used by a government office or organization for formal business.
文件wén jiàn: A document or written material used to keep information or records.
通知tōng zhī: A written notice sent to a particular recipient about a specific matter.
信函xìn hán: A formal letter used for official correspondence by a person or organization.

Definition in Chinese

由机关或单位签发，用于传达决定、请示、答复或证明等正式事项的书面文件。yóu jī guān huò dān wèi qiān fā yòng yú chuán dá jué dìng qǐng shì dá fù huò zhèng míng děng zhèng shì shì xiàng de shū miàn wén jiàn

Word origin

公 (gōng, "public") means public or official, while 函 (hán, "letter") developed from the idea of a container for a written message, giving the compound its institutional sense.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this noun sounds bureaucratic and normally belongs to discussions of paperwork issued by an institution, not personal messages.

Other meanings

  • official documentnoun

Opposites

  • 私函sī hánprivate letternoun
  • 私人信件sī rén xìn jiànpersonal letternoun

Word lists with this word