公正 (gōngzhèng) — just, impartial
HSK 5 | adjective/noun | acting with moral uprightness and impartiality in judgment
公正 (gōngzhèng)
公正 refers to impartial and morally upright conduct, especially in making judgments or decisions, free from personal bias or favoritism.
Meanings
- [adjective] just, impartial, fair-minded, unbiased
- [noun] justice, impartiality
Example Sentences
法官必须保持公正，不受任何外部压力的干扰。 Fǎguān bìxū bǎochí gōngzhèng, bù shòu rènhé wàibù yālì de gānrǎo. A judge must remain impartial and not be influenced by any external pressure.
历史将以公正的眼光评价这位领导人的功过。 Lìshǐ jiāng yǐ gōngzhèng de yǎnguāng píngjià zhè wèi lǐngdǎorén de gōngguò. History will evaluate this leader's merits and faults with an impartial perspective.
媒体有责任对事件进行公正、客观的报道。 Méitǐ yǒu zérèn duì shìjiàn jìnxíng gōngzhèng, kèguān de bàodào. The media has a responsibility to report events in a fair and objective manner.
他以公正著称，从不让个人情感影响决定。 Tā yǐ gōngzhèng zhùchēng, cóng bù ràng gèrén qínggǎn yǐngxiǎng juédìng. He is known for his impartiality and never lets personal feelings affect his decisions.
一个公正的社会应该为每个人提供平等的机会。 Yī gè gōngzhèng de shèhuì yīnggāi wèi měi gè rén tígōng píngděng de jīhuì. A just society should provide equal opportunities for everyone.
他认为这项判决并不公正，决定提出上诉。 Tā rènwéi zhè xiàng pànjué bìng bù gōngzhèng, juédìng tíchū shàngsù. He felt the verdict was not just and decided to appeal.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 公正客观 | fair and objective |
| 公平公正 | fair and just |
| 公正裁决 | impartial ruling |
| 主持公正 | to uphold justice |
| 公正评价 | impartial evaluation |
| 公正无私 | just and selfless |
Usage Notes
公正 emphasizes moral uprightness and impartiality in judgment, making it the appropriate word for contexts involving verdicts, evaluations, and ethical assessments. Compare with 公平 (gōngpíng), which focuses more on procedural and systemic equality. You would say 公正的判决 (just verdict) and 公平的竞争 (fair competition) -- not the other way around.
The four-character idiom 公正无私 (just and selfless) is a common formal compliment for a person of integrity. 主持公正 (to uphold justice/to preside over impartially) is a fixed phrase used to describe a leader or official who ensures fair outcomes.
Memory Hook
公 means "public/impartial" and 正 means "upright/correct" -- 公正 is standing publicly upright, tilting toward no one, like a perfectly vertical scale.