public · fair

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 公 expresses a public character or fairness and has the on-reading こう.
• Basic usage: 公共(こうきょう) refers to the public sphere, 公園(こうえん) to a park, and 公平(こうへい) to fairness.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Being fair and acting fairly
  • In 公平な評価, な links the description to the assessment; in 公平に評価した, に describes how the assessment was performed.