公こう明めい

こ

う

め

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Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

Describes a process, attitude, or governance that is transparent, fair, and without hidden bias. Often used in formal or political contexts.

選せん挙きょは公こう明めいに行おこなわれなければならない。
Elections must be conducted fairly and openly.
彼かれの公こう明めいな態たい度どが信しん頼らいを集あつめた。
His impartial attitude earned trust.

noun

Komeito (political party)

abbreviation

Abbreviation of 公明党, a Japanese political party. Used primarily in news headlines and political commentary.

Usage patterns

公こう明めいな〈事こと〉a fair, transparent (process, judgment, etc.)
公こう明めいな選せん挙きょが行おこなわれることが求もとめられている。
There is a demand for fair and transparent elections.
〈事こと〉の公こう明めいを期きすto strive to ensure the fairness of ~
選せん挙きょの公こう明めいを期きすため、監かん視し員いんが配はい置ちされた。
Observers were deployed to ensure the fairness of the election.

Kanji

公public, prince, official
明bright, light

Related words

公こう正せいN2sense 1
公正 emphasizes justice and impartial judgment, while 公明 stresses openness and transparency alongside fairness.
公こう平へいN3sense 1
公平 focuses on equal, unbiased treatment between parties, whereas 公明 highlights openness and the absence of hidden dealings.

Opposites

不ふ正せいN3sense 1
不正 means corruption or wrongdoing, the direct opposite of the transparency and fairness expressed by 公明.

Don't confuse with

光こう明みょう sense 1
光明 (same reading) means 'light' or 'ray of hope', while 公明 means fairness and openness—easy to mix up by sound alone.
公こう明めい党とう sense 2
公明党 is the full name of the political party, while 公明 alone can mean either the abbreviation of the party or plain 'fairness'.
高こう名めいN1
公明 (fairness, impartiality) is a homophone of 高名 (famous) but has an entirely unrelated meaning about justice, not renown.

Word family

公こう明めい正せい大だい
fair; just; open and aboveboard

Etymology

Compound of 公 (public, open) and 明 (clear, bright). The meaning 'fair and open' is transparent from the kanji. The political party name is an abbreviation of 公明党.