gōng ér wàng sī: 公而忘私 - Selfless; To put public duty before personal interests

• Keywords: 公而忘私, gōng ér wàng sī, selfless, public duty, forget private interests, Chinese idiom, chengyu, collectivism, altruism, sacrifice for the greater good, Chinese values.
• Summary: 公而忘私 (gōng ér wàng sī) is a highly respected Chinese idiom (chengyu) that describes the virtue of being so dedicated to public duty that one forgets personal interests. This concept, often translated as “selfless” or “to put the collective good first,” is a cornerstone of Chinese cultural values, praising individuals who make significant personal sacrifices for their community, company, or country. Understanding 公而忘私 offers a deep insight into the Chinese ideal of a model citizen, leader, or hero.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gōng ér wàng sī
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom); Verb Phrase
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced)
• Concise Definition: To be devoted to public affairs to the point of forgetting one's own private interests.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a firefighter who misses their own child's birthday to save people from a burning building, or a scientist who works through holidays to finish a crucial national project. That's the spirit of 公而忘私. It's a formal and praiseworthy term for someone who completely prioritizes their duties to the “public” (公) and “forgets” (忘) their “private” (私) life and needs. It represents a high moral standard in Chinese culture.

• 公 (gōng): This character's original pictograph might have represented an open, shared space. Today, it means “public,” “collective,” or “common.” Think of 公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē - public bus) or 公司 (gōngsī - company, lit. “public management”).
• 而 (ér): A classical function word that connects two clauses. Here, it acts like “and then” or “and as a result,” linking the cause (devotion to public duty) to the effect (forgetting the self).
• 忘 (wàng): This character is composed of 亡 (wáng - to disappear/lose) on top and 心 (xīn - heart/mind) on the bottom. So, it literally means to have something “disappear from your mind”—to forget.
• 私 (sī): This character often means “private,” “personal,” or “selfish.” Think of 私人 (sīrén - private/personal).

The characters combine literally to mean: “(For the) public, and as a result, forget (the) private.” This beautifully captures the essence of prioritizing the collective over the individual.

• Confucian Roots and Collectivism: The idea of 公而忘私 is deeply rooted in Confucian philosophy, which emphasizes social harmony and an individual's duty to their family, community, and state. It is a prime example of the cultural value of 集体主义 (jítǐ zhǔyì) - collectivism, where the group's welfare is considered more important than individual desires.
• Comparison to Western “Public Service”: In Western cultures, “public service” or “altruism” are highly valued. However, there's often an underlying assumption of maintaining a “work-life balance.” A hero in the West is admired for their sacrifice, but they are also expected and encouraged to take care of themselves. 公而忘私 represents a more extreme ideal. It doesn't just praise balancing public and private life; it praises the near-total sublimation of the private for the public good. The act of “forgetting” (忘) the self is the key cultural distinction—it implies a level of devotion so complete that personal needs don't even enter one's mind.
• The Ideal Official/Hero: Historically, this idiom was used to describe the ideal government official who worked tirelessly for the people and the emperor without a thought for personal wealth or fame. Today, it's used to praise “model workers,” soldiers, doctors, and anyone seen as a paragon of civic virtue.

• Formality: This is a very formal and laudatory (praiseworthy) idiom. You will almost never hear it in casual, everyday conversation among friends.
• Common Contexts:
  • State Media and Propaganda: News reports and government announcements frequently use 公而忘私 to describe heroes, model citizens, or exemplary Party members. For example, describing doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Official Speeches and Commendations: A CEO might use it in a speech to praise a team that worked overtime to launch a product, or a principal might use it to describe a dedicated teacher.
  • Literature and Formal Writing: It is common in written Chinese to convey a sense of nobility and self-sacrifice.
• Connotation: It is overwhelmingly positive. Using it implies great respect and admiration for the person being described. Using it to describe yourself would sound extremely arrogant or insincere.

• Example 1:
  • 在疫情期间，许多医生和护士都公而忘私地工作，日夜奋战在一线。
  • Pinyin: Zài yìqíng qījiān, xǔduō yīshēng hé hùshi dōu gōng ér wàng sī de gōngzuò, rìyè fènzhàn zài yīxiàn.
  • English: During the epidemic, many doctors and nurses worked selflessly, fighting day and night on the front lines.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, modern usage. It highlights the sacrifice made for the public good (public health) and is common in news reports.
• Example 2:
  • 这位科学家为了国家的航天事业，几十年如一日，公而忘私，贡献了自己的一生。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi kēxuéjiā wèile guójiā de hángtiān shìyè, jǐ shí nián rú yí rì, gōng ér wàng sī, gòngxiàn le zìjǐ de yìshēng.
  • English: For the sake of the nation's space program, this scientist was selfless for decades, as if every day were the same, and contributed his entire life.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes long-term dedication to a national cause, a perfect context for this formal idiom.
• Example 3:
  • 他被评为年度优秀员工，因为他总是公而忘私，把公司利益放在第一位。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi píng wèi niándù yōuxiù yuángōng, yīnwèi tā zǒngshì gōng ér wàng sī, bǎ gōngsī lìyì fàng zài dì yī wèi.
  • English: He was named employee of the year because he always puts public duty before himself, placing the company's interests first.
  • Analysis: Here, the “public” (公) is the company. This shows how the concept can be applied in a corporate context to praise a model employee.
• Example 4:
  • 作为领导，我们应该学习他那种公而忘私的精神。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi lǐngdǎo, wǒmen yīnggāi xuéxí tā nà zhǒng gōng ér wàng sī de jīngshén.
  • English: As leaders, we should learn from his spirit of selfless devotion.
  • Analysis: The phrase 公而忘私的精神 (jīngshén - spirit) is a common collocation. It refers to the abstract virtue itself.
• Example 5:
  • 历史书上充满了对那些公而忘私的英雄的赞美。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ shū shàng chōngmǎnle duì nàxiē gōng ér wàng sī de yīngxióng de zànměi.
  • English: History books are filled with praise for those selfless heroes.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows its use in a historical context, referring to figures from the past.
• Example 6:
  • 要做到真正的公而忘私是非常困难的，毕竟人都有自己的家庭和需求。
  • Pinyin: Yào zuòdào zhēnzhèng de gōng ér wàng sī shì fēicháng kùnnán de, bìjìng rén dōu yǒu zìjǐ de jiātíng hé xūqiú.
  • English: It is very difficult to be truly selfless, after all, everyone has their own family and needs.
  • Analysis: This sentence provides a realistic perspective, acknowledging the high standard that 公而忘私 represents.
• Example 7:
  • 他这种公而忘私的行为，赢得了所有村民的尊敬。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhè zhǒng gōng ér wàng sī de xíngwéi, yíngdéle suǒyǒu cūnmín de zūnjìng.
  • English: This kind of selfless behavior of his won the respect of all the villagers.
  • Analysis: Here, the “public” is a small community (a village), showing the scalability of the concept.
• Example 8:
  • 我们不能要求每个人都公而忘私，但我们应该鼓励无私奉献的精神。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bùnéng yāoqiú měi ge rén dōu gōng ér wàng sī, dàn wǒmen yīnggāi gǔlì wúsī fèngxiàn de jīngshén.
  • English: We cannot demand that everyone be completely selfless, but we should encourage the spirit of selfless contribution.
  • Analysis: This sentence cleverly contrasts 公而忘私 with a slightly less extreme but related term, 无私奉献 (wúsī fèngxiàn), showing nuance.
• Example 9:
  • 焦裕禄公而忘私的感人故事，教育了一代又一代人。
  • Pinyin: Jiāo Yùlù gōng ér wàng sī de gǎnrén gùshi, jiàoyùle yí dài yòu yí dài rén.
  • English: The moving story of Jiao Yulu's selflessness has educated generation after generation.
  • Analysis: Jiao Yulu is a famous political figure in China lauded as a model of selfless service. Associating the idiom with a specific, well-known person is a powerful way to use it.
• Example 10:
  • 与他公而忘私的高尚品德相比，我的想法显得太自私了。
  • Pinyin: Yǔ tā gōng ér wàng sī de gāoshàng pǐndé xiāng bǐ, wǒ de xiǎngfǎ xiǎnde tài zìsī le.
  • English: Compared to his noble character of selfless devotion, my own thoughts seem so selfish.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the idiom as a point of comparison to highlight its antonym, selfishness (自私).

• Don't Use It Casually: This is the most common mistake. Never use 公而忘私 to describe everyday situations. Saying “I missed lunch because I was busy with a report, I was so 公而忘私” would sound ridiculous and arrogant. It's reserved for significant acts of sacrifice in a formal context.
• It's Not Just “Being Helpful”: 公而忘私 is different from simply helping someone. It specifically involves a conflict between a public duty (公) and a private interest (私), where the public duty wins. Helping a friend move is nice, but it's not 公而忘私 because it's in the private sphere. A firefighter missing their anniversary to fight a blaze is 公而忘私.
• False Friend: “Selfless”: While “selfless” is the best simple translation, it's broader in English. You can be “selfless” in a personal relationship. 公而忘私 almost always implies a duty to a larger entity: the company, the community, the nation. The “公” (public) part is crucial and often overlooked by learners.

• 大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī): A very close synonym, meaning “greatly public and without private interest.” It is virtually interchangeable with 公而忘私.
• 克己奉公 (kè jǐ fèng gōng): “To restrain oneself and dedicate to the public.” A synonym that emphasizes the aspect of self-control and discipline required to be selfless.
• 舍己为人 (shě jǐ wèi rén): “To sacrifice oneself for the sake of others.” Similar in spirit, but focuses more on the action of helping other people, whereas 公而忘私 focuses on the devotion to one's public duty.
• 自私自利 (zì sī zì lì): The direct antonym, meaning “selfish and concerned only with one's own profit.”
• 无私奉献 (wú sī fèng xiàn): “Selfless contribution/dedication.” A very common and slightly less formal modern term that captures a similar spirit. It is more flexible than the rigid chengyu structure.
• 集体主义 (jí tǐ zhǔ yì): “Collectivism.” The underlying philosophical and social value that makes a concept like 公而忘私 so highly praised.
• 鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已 (jū gōng jìn cuì, sǐ ér hòu yǐ): “To bend one's back to a task and exhaust one's energy, and only stop after death.” A famous, extremely formal phrase from classical Chinese describing ultimate, lifelong dedication, often used for great historical figures. It is the highest expression of the 公而忘私 spirit.