大公无私
大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī) literally means “great public no private” and expresses “completely impartial without self-interest”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: da gong wu si, da gong wu si,大公无私 meaning, 大公无私 in english
Completely impartial without self-interest
Pronunciation: dà gōng wú sī Literal meaning: Great public no private
Origin & Usage
Han Dynasty administrative manuals first set this standard of great fairness (大公) without self-interest (无私) for imperial officials. Tang Dynasty Neo-Confucian philosophers expanded it into a broader ethical ideal. The phrase gains power from its absolute nature - not just minimizing but completely eliminating private interest in public service. Today it sets a standard for judicial conduct and organizational leadership.
When to Use
Situation: The judge recused herself from the case involving her former colleague
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 大公无私 mean in English?
大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī) literally translates to “Great public no private” and is used to express “Completely impartial without self-interest”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 大公无私 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving completely impartial without self-interest.
What is the pinyin for 大公无私?
The pinyin pronunciation for 大公无私 is “dà gōng wú sī”.