Keywords: 公布, gongbu, what does gongbu mean, how to use gongbu, announce in Chinese, publish in Chinese, make public in Chinese, Chinese word for proclaim, gongbu vs xuanbu, HSK 5 vocabulary, official announcement in Chinese.
Summary: Learn how to use the Chinese verb 公布 (gōngbù), which means to officially announce, publish, or make information public. This HSK 5 term is essential for understanding formal contexts, as it's typically used by governments, companies, and schools to release important information like new laws, financial results, or exam scores. This guide will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and compare it to similar words like 宣布 (xuānbù) to ensure you use it correctly.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): gōng bù
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: To officially announce or make information public.
In a Nutshell: Think of 公布 (gōngbù) as the formal word for when an authority “puts something on the bulletin board” for everyone to see. It’s not for casual announcements like telling friends you're getting married. Instead, it's used when a government, school, or company releases official, factual information like results, lists, data, or new rules. It implies a formal, one-to-many communication.
Character Breakdown
公 (gōng): This character means “public,” “common,” or “official.” It's the same character found in words like 公园 (gōngyuán, public park) and 公司 (gōngsī, company). It signifies something shared by all.
布 (bù): This character originally meant “cloth.” From this, it developed the meaning “to spread” or “to distribute,” like spreading a cloth out for all to see. It's also used in the word 宣布 (xuānbù, to declare).
Together, 公布 (gōngbù) literally means “to spread to the public” or “to publicly distribute,” which perfectly captures its modern meaning of making information officially available to everyone.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, there's a strong emphasis on official channels and authoritative sources. 公布 (gōngbù) embodies this concept. When information is “公布-ed,” it gains a level of official legitimacy and seriousness. It signifies that the information has been finalized by an authority and is now being disseminated to the public.
Compared to the English word “announce,” 公布 (gōngbù) is far more formal and less personal. In the West, a celebrity might “announce” a new project, or a couple might “announce” their engagement. In Chinese, these situations would use different words. 公布 (gōngbù) is almost exclusively reserved for institutions and organizations communicating with the public. Using it for personal news would sound strange and overly dramatic.
This term reflects a top-down information flow that is common in many aspects of Chinese society. You wait for the school to 公布 the results; you wait for the government to 公布 a new policy. It implies a clear distinction between the information holder (the authority) and the information receiver (the public).
Practical Usage in Modern China
公布 (gōngbù) is a staple of formal written and spoken Chinese. You will encounter it constantly in the news, official documents, and on institutional websites.
Common Contexts:
Government/Legal: Announcing new laws, regulations, or public notices. (e.g., 公布新法规 - gōngbù xīn fǎguī - to announce a new regulation).
Education: Publishing exam scores, admission lists, or school calendars. (e.g., 公布考试成绩 - gōngbù kǎoshì chéngjì - to announce exam scores).
Business: Releasing financial reports, quarterly earnings, or lists of new hires. (e.g., 公布财务报告 - gōngbù cáiwù bàogào - to announce a financial report).
Competitions: Announcing the list of winners or finalists. (e.g., 公布获奖名单 - gōngbù huòjiǎng míngdān - to announce the list of award winners).
Formality & Connotation: It is a highly formal and neutral term. It simply describes the action of making information public without adding any positive or negative flavor.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
政府下周将公布新的环保政策。
Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ xià zhōu jiāng gōngbù xīn de huánbǎo zhèngcè.
English: The government will announce the new environmental protection policy next week.
Analysis: A classic example of an authority (the government) officially releasing information (a policy).
English: The detailed results of the study will be published in an academic journal.
Analysis: While 发表 (fābiǎo) is often used for publishing articles, 公布 can also be used when the focus is on releasing the “results” or “data” contained within.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The most common mistake for learners is confusing 公布 (gōngbù) with other “announcing” verbs.
公布 (gōngbù) vs. 宣布 (xuānbù): This is the key distinction.
公布 (gōngbù): Focuses on making information or data public (lists, reports, results, statistics). The information already exists; the action is making it visible.
Correct: 公布成绩 (gōngbù chéngjì) - Announce the scores.
宣布 (xuānbù): Focuses on the act of declaring something, often a decision or an event. It carries a sense of ceremony and authority.
Correct: 宣布会议开始 (xuānbù huìyì kāishǐ) - Declare the meeting has begun.
Incorrect: `宣布成绩` (xuānbù chéngjì). While people might understand you, 公布 is the standard and correct word for results.
公布 (gōngbù) vs. 发表 (fābiǎo):
发表 (fābiǎo): Means to “publish” or “issue,” and is used for creative or opinion-based works. You 发表 an article, a novel, a speech, or an opinion. It implies authorship.
Correct: 发表一篇文章 (fābiǎo yī piān wénzhāng) - To publish an article.
Incorrect: `发表成绩` (fābiǎo chéngjì). You don't “author” scores; you just make them public.
公布 (gōngbù) vs. 通知 (tōngzhī):
通知 (tōngzhī): Means to “notify” or “inform.” It is often directed at a specific group and can be less formal. It's the action of getting a message to someone. A 通知 (noun: a notice) might be the document used to 公布 (verb: to announce) information.
Correct: 老师通知我们明天考试 (Lǎoshī tōngzhī wǒmen míngtiān kǎoshì) - The teacher informed us we have a test tomorrow.
Incorrect: `老师公布我们明天考试`. This sounds too formal, as if the teacher were making a public decree to the entire world.
Related Terms and Concepts
宣布 (xuānbù) - A close synonym meaning “to declare” or “proclaim.” Focuses more on the ceremonial act of announcing a decision or event.
公告 (gōnggào) - A noun meaning “public notice” or “announcement.” This is often the *thing* that gets 公布-ed.
发布 (fābù) - To release or issue. Very similar to 公布, often used interchangeably for news, information, or even new products (e.g., a press release, 发布会 fābùhuì).
发表 (fābiǎo) - To publish or issue, typically used for articles, opinions, and creative works.
通知 (tōngzhī) - To notify or inform; a notice. More targeted and can be less formal than 公布.
公开 (gōngkāi) - To make public, to open. Can be used as a verb or an adjective (e.g., an “open” secret, 公开的秘密 gōngkāi de mìmì). It emphasizes transparency.
声明 (shēngmíng) - A noun or verb meaning “(to make) a statement” or “declaration.” Often used for official positions or clarifications.