📖 Meaning
To serve the nation with selfless devotion and unwavering loyalty. It describes a person who puts the country's interests above personal gain and acts with the public good at heart. The phrase embodies the Confucian ideal of a dedicated official wholly committed to the state.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase is cited in Guo Moruo's (郭沫若) work 'The Era of Slavery' (《奴隶制时代》), specifically in his study of the 'Chimi Pian' (《侈靡篇》). Guo argued that those handling diplomacy must be people of selfless loyalty and ability, not individuals harboring private motives. The idiom distills the traditional virtue expected of ministers and officials—to serve the nation with complete dedication. It echoes the spirit of historical figures like Zhuge Liang, whom Guo also praised for embodying this ideal.
💡 Example Usage
做官当公忠体国，不可因私废公。
An official should serve the nation with selfless devotion and must never let private interests override public duty.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 公忠体国
- Pinyin: gōng zhōng tǐ guó
- Literal Translation: public, loyal, embody, state
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4