gōngān: 公安 - Public Security, Police

• Keywords: 公安, gongan, Chinese police, public security, Ministry of Public Security, China police, what is gongan, Chinese law enforcement, 公安局, gongan ju, 警察, jingcha
• Summary: 公安 (gōng'ān) is the Chinese term for “Public Security,” the state organ that functions as the police force in the People's Republic of China. It refers not just to individual officers but to the entire system, from the local police station (公安局) to the national Ministry of Public Security (公安部). Understanding gōng'ān is essential for anyone living in or traveling to China, as it's the primary body for law enforcement, emergency services, and administrative tasks like visa and residency registration.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gōng'ān
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: The public security apparatus or police force in the People's Republic of China.
• In a Nutshell: Think of “gōng'ān” as the entire institution of “the police.” While in English you might say “I'm calling the police,” in Chinese you would say you're calling the “gōng'ān.” It's the official name for the government body responsible for maintaining law and order, handling crime, managing traffic, and even administrative functions like registering your address. It represents the system, while the word 警察 (jǐngchá) is used for an individual police officer.

• 公 (gōng): This character means “public,” “common,” or “governmental.” It can be pictured as the character for “private” (厶) being opened up (八) for all to share, hence “public.”
• 安 (ān): This character means “safe,” “secure,” or “peaceful.” The ancient pictograph shows a woman (女) under a roof (宀), a powerful symbol of safety and tranquility within the home.
• When combined, 公安 (gōng'ān) literally translates to “Public Security.” The name itself clearly states its mission: to ensure the safety and peace of the general public under the authority of the state.

The concept of 公安 (gōng'ān) is more centralized and state-integrated than the concept of “police” in many Western countries. In the United States, for example, policing is highly localized, with separate city police departments, county sheriffs, and state troopers, all operating with a degree of autonomy. In contrast, the gōng'ān system in China is a single, hierarchical ministry under the direct control of the central government's State Council. The Ministry of Public Security (公安部 - Gōng'ān Bù) in Beijing oversees a nationwide network of provincial, city, and county-level bureaus. This centralized structure reflects a different philosophy of governance, where social stability (维稳 - wéiwěn) is a paramount state objective. The role of the gōng'ān extends far beyond just fighting crime. They are also responsible for:

• Household Registration (户口 - hùkǒu): Managing the crucial system that registers every citizen's place of residence.
• Immigration and Visas: Handling foreigners' visas, residence permits, and entry/exit controls.
• Internet Surveillance: Monitoring online activities to maintain social order.
• Traffic Control and Public Events Management.

For Chinese citizens, the gōng'ān is an ever-present symbol of state authority. For foreigners, it is the official face of Chinese law enforcement and the agency they must interact with for any legal or administrative matters, from reporting a lost passport to renewing a visa.

The term 公安 (gōng'ān) is used constantly in daily life, news, and official documents.

• Referring to the Institution: When talking about the police force as a whole, “gōng'ān” is the correct term. You visit the 公安局 (gōng'ān jú), the Public Security Bureau (police station), not the “jǐngchá jú.”
• In Emergencies: The emergency number in China is 110. When you call, you are “reporting to the police,” or 报警 (bàojǐng), and you are contacting the gōng'ān.
• Formal vs. Informal: “Gōng'ān” is the standard, neutral-to-formal term. In casual conversation, people might use it interchangeably with “jǐngchá” (police officer), but a distinction is usually maintained. For example, you might say, “The gōng'ān sent two jǐngchá to the scene.” (The Public Security Bureau sent two police officers).

• Example 1:
  • 我的钱包被偷了，我得去公安局报案。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de qiánbāo bèi tōu le, wǒ děi qù gōng'ān jú bào'àn.
  • English: My wallet was stolen, I have to go to the Public Security Bureau (police station) to file a report.
  • Analysis: This shows the most common usage: referring to the police station as the “gōng'ān jú.”
• Example 2:
  • 如果你丢了护照，你必须马上去找公安。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ diū le hùzhào, nǐ bìxū mǎshàng qù zhǎo gōng'ān.
  • English: If you lose your passport, you must immediately go find the Public Security (police).
  • Analysis: Here, “gōng'ān” refers to the relevant police authority responsible for foreigners' affairs.
• Example 3:
  • 公安提醒广大市民，注意防范电信诈骗。
  • Pinyin: Gōng'ān tíxǐng guǎngdà shìmín, zhùyì fángfàn diànxìn zhàpiàn.
  • English: The Public Security (police) reminds the general public to be on guard against telecom fraud.
  • Analysis: This is a typical sentence you would see in a public service announcement or news report, where “gōng'ān” acts as the official institutional subject.
• Example 4:
  • 这里的交通由公安人员指挥。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ de jiāotōng yóu gōng'ān rényuán zhǐhuī.
  • English: The traffic here is directed by Public Security personnel.
  • Analysis: The term 公安人员 (gōng'ān rényuán) is a formal way to refer to “police personnel” or “officers.”
• Example 5:
  • 外国人抵达后24小时内，必须到当地公安机关登记。
  • Pinyin: Wàiguórén dǐdá hòu èrshísì xiǎoshí nèi, bìxū dào dāngdì gōng'ān jīguān dēngjì.
  • English: Within 24 hours of arrival, foreigners must register with the local Public Security authorities.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the administrative function of the gōng'ān, a crucial piece of information for any visitor to China. 公安机关 (gōng'ān jīguān) means “Public Security organs/authorities.”
• Example 6:
  • 他因为打架被公安带走了。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi dǎjià bèi gōng'ān dài zǒu le.
  • English: He was taken away by the Public Security (police) for fighting.
  • Analysis: A common passive sentence using 被 (bèi) to show an action performed by the police.
• Example 7:
  • 这个案件很复杂，已经移交给市公安局处理了。
  • Pinyin: Zhège ànjiàn hěn fùzá, yǐjīng yíjiāo gěi shì gōng'ān jú chǔlǐ le.
  • English: This case is very complex and has been transferred to the municipal Public Security Bureau for handling.
  • Analysis: Shows how different levels of the gōng'ān system are referenced, in this case, the city-level bureau.
• Example 8:
  • 电影里的主角是一名勇敢的公安干警。
  • Pinyin: Diànyǐng lǐ de zhǔjué shì yī míng yǒnggǎn de gōng'ān gànjǐng.
  • English: The main character in the movie is a brave Public Security officer.
  • Analysis: 公安干警 (gōng'ān gànjǐng) is another formal term for a police officer, often used in media and official contexts.
• Example 9:
  • 别担心，有公安在，我们很安全。
  • Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, yǒu gōng'ān zài, wǒmen hěn ānquán.
  • English: Don't worry, the Public Security (police) are here, we are very safe.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the intended meaning of the term: the presence of the gōng'ān ensures public safety.
• Example 10:
  • 中华人民共和国公安部发布了新的通告。
  • Pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Gōng'ān Bù fābùle xīn de tōnggào.
  • English: The Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China issued a new announcement.
  • Analysis: This shows the full, formal name of the national-level ministry, as you would see in official news.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 公安 (gōng'ān) and 警察 (jǐngchá).

• 公安 (gōng'ān): The Institution. Refers to the Public Security system, bureau, or department. It is an organization.
  • Correct: 我要去公安局。 (Wǒ yào qù gōng'ān jú.) - I need to go to the Public Security Bureau.
  • Incorrect: 他是一个公安。 (Tā shì yī ge gōng'ān.)
  • Reason: This is like saying “He is a Department of Justice.” You are referring to a person as an entire institution.
• 警察 (jǐngchá): The Person. Refers to an individual police officer or the profession of being a police officer.
  • Correct: 他是一名警察。 (Tā shì yī míng jǐngchá.) - He is a police officer.
  • Correct: 街上有很多警察。 (Jiē shàng yǒu hěn duō jǐngchá.) - There are many police officers on the street.
  • Incorrect: 我要去警察局。(Wǒ yào qù jǐngchá jú.)
  • Reason: While people will understand you, the official and correct name for a police station is 公安局 (gōng'ān jú) or the more local 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ).

Analogy: Think of the US military. You would say “He is a soldier” (警察) and “He works for the Department of Defense” (公安). You wouldn't say “He is a Department of Defense.” The same logic applies here.

• 警察 (jǐngchá) - The individual police officer; the profession. The person who works for the gōng'ān.
• 公安局 (gōng'ān jú) - Public Security Bureau. The standard term for a city or county-level police headquarters.
• 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ) - Local police substation or precinct. This is the most local police office and your most likely point of contact for minor issues or registration.
• 报警 (bàojǐng) - The verb “to report to the police” or “to call the police.”
• 110 (yāo yāo líng) - The emergency number for police in mainland China. (Note: “one” is often read as “yāo” in phone numbers to avoid confusion with “qī”).
• 户口 (hùkǒu) - The household registration system, a crucial civil document managed by the gōng'ān.
• 治安 (zhì'ān) - Public order; law and order. The state of peace and security that the gōng'ān is tasked with maintaining.
• 武警 (wǔjǐng) - The People's Armed Police. A separate, paramilitary gendarmerie force responsible for internal security, counter-terrorism, and guarding high-profile sites. Distinct from, but works alongside, the gōng'ān.
• 公安部 (gōng'ān bù) - The Ministry of Public Security. The national-level cabinet ministry that commands the entire gōng'ān system.