大公无私

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: dà gōng wú sī
• English Translation: Selfless and impartial (putting public interest above all)
• Idiom Composition: 「大」（Utmost or greatest）＋「公」（Public or collective interest）＋「无」（Without or lacking）＋「私」（Selfishness or personal gain）
• Meaning: To prioritize the public interest over personal gain or emotions and to act with absolute fairness. It describes a person who is completely free from selfishness or bias when handling affairs. This is a highly commendatory term used to praise noble character.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「大公无私」 contains the following nuances:

• Service to the Public: It refers to the spirit of prioritizing the interests of society or the organization over one's own, even at the cost of personal sacrifice.
• Absolute Impartiality: It describes making objective and fair judgments without allowing personal feelings or relationships to interfere.
• Noble Integrity: It represents a high moral standing that rejects greed, serving as an ideal quality for leaders and officials.

3. Usage

「大公无私」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Character Evaluation: Used to praise a person's character or behavior, especially for those in leadership or public office.
  • Example:「他是一位大公无私的领导，深受员工爱戴。」
    （He is a selfless and impartial leader who is deeply loved and respected by his employees.）
• Describing Actions: Used to specifically describe a fair judgment or an objective course of action.
  • Example:「这位法官审理案件一向大公无私，从不偏袒任何一方。」
    （This judge has always been perfectly fair in handling cases, never showing favoritism to any side.）
• Setting an Ideal: Used to indicate the standard of conduct or attitude expected of someone in a position of trust.
  • Example:「作为一名公务员，应该时刻牢记大公无私的原则。」
    （As a public servant, one should always keep the principle of selflessness in mind.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这位经理在处理员工问题时一向大公无私，因此得到了大家的信任。
   （This manager has always been selfless and impartial when handling employee issues, thus earning everyone's trust.）
2. 在选拔人才时，我们应该大公无私，唯才是举。
   （When selecting talent, we should be perfectly objective and appoint people solely on their merit.）
3. 面对金钱的诱惑，他依然保持大公无私的本色，拒绝了贿赂。
   （In the face of monetary temptation, he maintained his selfless nature and refused the bribe.）
4. 只有大公无私的人，才能赢得真正的尊重。
   （Only those who are truly selfless and fair can win genuine respect.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Origin: This idiom is derived from ancient philosophical concepts. It is often linked to the phrase '至公无私' (zhì gōng wú sī) found in the Classic of Loyalty (忠经 - zhōng jīng) by the scholar Ma Rong (马融), as well as the idea 'The heavens are fair and without selfishness' (天公平而无私) from the Guanzi (管子).
• Public vs. Private: The concept of 'valuing the public (公 - gōng) and suppressing the private (私 - sī)' has been a cornerstone of Chinese political ethics and moral philosophy for millennia.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 公正无私 (gōng zhèng wú sī): Fair and selfless; being just and without personal bias.
  • 铁面无私 (tiě miàn wú sī): Strictly impartial; literally 'iron-faced,' describing someone who is sternly fair and does not let personal emotions affect their judgment.
  • 顾全大局 (gù quán dà jú): To take the overall situation into consideration.link
  • 全心全意 (quán xīn quán yì): To do something with all one's heart and mind.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 假公济私 (jiǎ gōng jì sī): To use public office for private gain; to promote one's own interests under the guise of public service.
  • 徇私舞弊 (xùn sī wǔ bì): To bend the law for personal gain or favoritism; to engage in fraudulent activities for private interest.
  • 自私自利 (zì sī zì lì): To be selfish and only care about one's own benefit.link
  • 损人利己 (sǔn rén lì jǐ): To harm others to benefit oneself.link

6. Summary

大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī) is a powerful idiom representing a peak ethical standard: discarding personal desires to serve the collective good. Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy found in texts like the Classic of Loyalty (忠经) and the Guanzi (管子), it remains the gold standard for leadership and public service today. It emphasizes the total devotion to the 'public' (公 - gōng) over the 'self' (私 - sī).