public
public — 形容詞
1. connected with all the people who live in a society, rather than only a specific
公眾的
與全體民眾相關的
connected with all the people who live in a society, rather than only a specific group or a single person.
Public opinion about the new recycling program has been very positive.
關於新的回收計畫，公眾意見一直非常正面。
collocation: public opinion
The mayor held a public meeting to answer questions from local residents.
市長舉辦了一場公聽會，回答當地居民的提問。
collocation: public meeting
There is growing public concern about rising housing costs in the city.
大眾對該市不斷上漲的房價日益擔憂。
Aoi posted the results online for public access.
Aoi 將結果上傳到網站供公眾查閱。
Park improvements were made in the public interest.
公園的改善工程是基於公共利益而進行的。
- general
used in 'general public' to mean the whole population, but not interchangeable for all collocations (e.g. 'general opinion' ≠ 'public opinion')
- communal
more formal and stresses shared ownership or use within a community
- popular
focuses on what many people like or support, rather than what involves them
- private
belonging to or concerning a particular person or group, not the general population
文法句型
public + noun (public opinion, public interest, public health)
the public + noun
用法筆記
This is the broadest sense of 'public' as an adjective. It attaches to the noun that follows as something belonging to, affecting, or concerning everyone — not just a private individual or company. Do not use comparative forms (✗ 'more public opinion'); the concept is binary.
常見錯誤
2. paid for, owned, or run by the government using money from taxes, so that everyo
公共的
由政府用稅收提供或營運的
paid for, owned, or run by the government using money from taxes, so that everyone in a community can use it.
Lakshmi takes the public bus to work every morning.
Lakshmi 每天早上搭公車上班。
collocation: public transport
Public schools in the district received new computers from the city government.
該區的公立學校從市政府獲得了新的電腦設備。
collocation: public school
The local public library offers free internet access to all residents.
當地的公共圖書館為所有居民提供免費的網路服務。
Spending on public healthcare has increased steadily over the past decade.
過去十年來，公共醫療保健的支出穩定成長。
Andrei works for a public university in the north of the country.
Andrei 在該國北部的一所公立大學工作。
- state
more common in British English for government-run institutions (e.g. 'state school')
- government
used as adjective ('government agency', 'government funding'), but less natural for services like transport
- municipal
used for local city or town government services
- private
run by individuals or companies for profit, not by the government
文法句型
public + noun (public transport, public school, public library)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 is about government ownership or funding, whereas sense 1 is about the general population as a whole. A 'public hospital' is government-run; 'public opinion' means what people think. Some nouns can take both senses with different meanings: 'public service' can mean a government service (sense 2) or a service for the community (sense 1).
常見錯誤
3. describing a location, space, or area where anyone is allowed to go or where man
公共場所的
開放給所有人的空間或地方
describing a location, space, or area where anyone is allowed to go or where many people gather.
Aoi enjoys reading novels in the public park near her apartment.
Aoi 喜歡在她公寓附近的公園裡看小說。
collocation: public park
Smoking is banned in all indoor public places across the city.
全市所有室內公共場所都禁止吸菸。
collocation: public place
The public square filled with people celebrating the harvest festival.
廣場上擠滿了慶祝豐收節的人們。
Tunde left his bicycle in a public space outside the train station.
Tunde 把腳踏車留在火車站外的公共空間。
文法句型
public + noun (public place, public park, public space)
be + public (describing a location)
用法筆記
This sense applies specifically to physical locations. It overlaps with sense 2 when the place is government-owned (a 'public park' is usually also provided by the government), but the focus here is on open access and visibility, not funding source. A 'public square' in a privately owned shopping centre is still a 'public place' under this sense.
常見錯誤
4. describing a company whose ownership is divided into shares that any person can
上市的
股票可在交易所自由買賣的
describing a company whose ownership is divided into shares that any person can buy or sell on a stock exchange.
The tech start-up went public on the New York Stock Exchange last year.
這家科技新創公司去年在紐約證券交易所上市了。
phrasal pattern: go public
Selim invested in several public companies that focus on renewable energy.
Selim 投資了幾家專注於再生能源的上市公司。
collocation: public company
A public offering allows ordinary investors to buy shares for the first time.
公開募股讓一般投資人首次有機會購買股票。
The board voted to turn the family business into a public corporation.
董事會投票決定將這家家族企業改組為上市公司。
- private
shares owned by a small group, not available to the general public
文法句型
public + noun (public company, public offering)
go + public (become a publicly traded company)
用法筆記
This is a specialised business sense. 'Public' here contrasts with 'private' (where shares are held by a small group and not traded on an exchange). 'Go public' is a fixed verb phrase meaning to issue shares for the first time (an Initial Public Offering, or IPO). The noun 'public' is not used in this business sense.
常見錯誤
5. known or seen by many people because it is not hidden or kept private.
公開的
不隱藏、大家都知道或可見的
known or seen by many people because it is not hidden or kept private.
The actor's divorce became public after a newspaper published the story.
這名演員的離婚消息在報紙刊登報導之後變成了公開資訊。
pattern: become public
Camila made a public apology for her comments during the live broadcast.
Camila 為她在直播節目中的發言公開道歉。
collocation: public apology
The details of the contract were never made public.
那份合約的細節從未被公開。
It was public knowledge that the two singers had not spoken for years.
這兩位歌手多年來沒有交談，是眾所皆知的事。
- secret
kept hidden or known only by a few people
- private
not intended to be known or seen by others
- confidential
kept secret out of privacy or official policy
文法句型
make + something + public
become + public
be + public + noun (public figure, public knowledge)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive construction 'be made public' and 'become public'. Unlike senses 1–3, this sense regularly follows linking verbs. A 'public figure' is a well-known person, not necessarily a government official — the emphasis is on visibility, not on belonging to the general population.
常見錯誤
public — 名詞
1. all ordinary people in a society, considered together as one group — not the gov
公眾
社會上的一般民眾
all ordinary people in a society, considered together as one group — not the government, not experts, and not a single organisation.
The public has a right to know how their tax money is being spent.
公眾有權知道他們的稅金是如何被使用的。
the public + singular verb
The museum will be closed to the public for renovations next month.
博物館下個月將因整修而暫停對外開放。
closed to the public
The general public was invited to share their opinions at the town hall.
一般民眾受邀在市鎮廳分享他們的意見。
Camila believes the public should have more influence over planning decisions.
Camila 認為民眾對於規劃決策應該有更多的發言權。
The public are growing tired of misleading advertisements.
大眾對於誤導性的廣告越來越感到厭煩。
- government
the ruling body, as distinct from the people it governs
- élite
a small, powerful group within society
文法句型
the public + singular/plural verb
the general public
the public at large
open / closed to the public
用法筆記
This noun is almost always used with the definite article 'the'. It can be followed by either a singular verb ('the public is…' — treating it as a collective unit) or a plural verb ('the public are…' — emphasising the individuals), with the plural form more common in British English. 'General public' is a common fixed phrase that emphasises ordinary people as distinct from professionals or officials.
常見錯誤
2. people who share an interest in a particular person, brand, organisation, or act
讀者群；觀眾
對特定事物感興趣的一群人
people who share an interest in a particular person, brand, organisation, or activity — for instance, the fans of a musician, the readers of a magazine, or the customers of a company.
The author's novels have found a loyal reading public across Asia.
這位作者的小說在亞洲各地找到了忠實的讀者群。
the reading public
Stephanie's band hopes to reach a wider public with their new album.
Stephanie 的樂團希望藉由新專輯接觸更廣大的聽眾。
The museum expects its public to grow by fifteen percent this year.
這間博物館今年的參觀人數預計會成長百分之十五。
The show attracted a young public who had never visited the theatre before.
這場演出吸引了以前從未進過劇院的年輕觀眾。
文法句型
someone's public
the + adjective + public (the reading public, the theatre public)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 refers to all ordinary people in general, while sense 2 refers to a specific segment of people who share an interest. 'The public' (sense 1) is everyone; 'her public' (sense 2) is her fans or followers. This sense can take a descriptive adjective such as 'reading', 'theatre', 'cinema', 'buying', 'voting'.
常見錯誤
3. a situation in which other people are present and can see or hear what is happen
公開場合
在別人看得到或聽得到的地方
a situation in which other people are present and can see or hear what is happening — not in a private setting.
Ilan does not like to sing in public because he feels shy.
Ilan 不喜歡在公開場合唱歌，因為他會害羞。
fixed phrase: in public
The couple rarely argues in public and prefers to talk at home.
這對情侶很少在公開場合吵架，比較喜歡回家談。
Manuela felt very nervous about speaking in public for the first time.
Manuela 第一次在公開場合發言時感到非常緊張。
Élise found it hard to express her true feelings in public.
Élise 覺得在公開場合表達真實的感受很困難。
- openly
an adverb that can replace 'in public' in some contexts, but emphasises honesty rather than visibility
- in private
in a situation where no other people can see or hear
- secretly
without other people knowing
文法句型
in public (adverbial phrase)
verb + in public
用法筆記
This is not a standalone noun sense — it is only used in the fixed adverbial phrase 'in public', which contrasts with 'in private'. The phrase can modify any action verb: 'eat in public', 'cry in public', 'appear in public'. Unlike sense 1, there is no article: 'in the public' is incorrect for this meaning.