公: the kanji for public and official
公 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means public, official. Below are its readings, 11 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
公 is written in 4 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
公 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 11 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
コウ (kou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 公園こうえん · kōen | park |
| 公共こうきょう · kōkyō | public |
| 公式こうしき · kōshiki | official |
| 公開こうかい · kōkai | release; making public |
| 公務員こうむいん · kōmuin | civil servant |
| 公平こうへい · kōhei | fair |
| 公表こうひょう · kōhyō | official announcement |
| 公立こうりつ · kōritsu | public (school) |
| 主人公しゅじんこう · shujinkō | main character |
| 公民館こうみんかん · kōminkan | community center |
おおやけ (ooyake)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 公おおやけ · ōyake | public; official |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 昼休みに公園を散歩しました。Hiruyasumi ni kōen o sanpo shimashita.I took a walk in the park during my lunch break.
- 詳しくは公式サイトをご覧ください。Kuwashiku wa kōshiki saito o goran kudasai.For details, please see the official website.
- 結果は来月公表されます。Kekka wa raigetsu kōhyō saremasu.The results will be announced next month.
- 公共の場所では静かにしましょう。Kōkyō no basho de wa shizuka ni shimashō.Let's be quiet in public places.
- 子どもは公立の小学校に通っています。Kodomo wa kōritsu no shōgakkō ni kayotte imasu.My child goes to a public elementary school.
- 評価は公平にしてください。Hyōka wa kōhei ni shite kudasai.Please make the evaluation fair.
Questions about 公
How many strokes does 公 have?
公 is written in 4 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 公?
The on readings are kou (コウ). The kun readings are ooyake (おおやけ).
What is a 公民館?
A 公民館 (kōminkan) is a local community center run by the city. Residents use its rooms for classes, clubs and meetings, often for a small fee.
What JLPT level is 公?
N4. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Work and money
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 公
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.