公而忘私

Pronunciation: gōng ér wàng sī Literal meaning: Publicly forget the private

Origin & Usage

The idiom 公而忘私 (gōng ér wàng sī) originates from the Han Dynasty, specifically from the writings of Ban Gu in the 'Book of Han' (汉书). It tells the story of Jia Yi, a talented young scholar who was recognized for his wisdom and integrity. Despite facing jealousy and false accusations from others, Jia Yi advised Emperor Wen of Han to prioritize public welfare over personal interests. The characters 公 (gōng) and 私 (sī) mean 'public' and 'private,' respectively, while 忘 (wàng) means 'to forget.' Thus, the idiom literally means 'publicly forget the private.' In modern usage, it describes the virtue of selflessly prioritizing the collective good over personal gain, a quality admired in leaders and citizens alike.

Examples

English: "She always puts the team's needs above her own, earning the respect of her colleagues."

Chinese: 她总是把团队的需求放在自己之上，赢得了同事们的尊重。