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公约 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
公约gōngyuēconvention (i.e. international agreement)HSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #20564, Very Hard
gōngyuē(gong1yue1)gong yue T1
  1. 1convention (i.e. international agreement)
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March 24, 2026

公约(公約)gōngyuē(gong1yue1)

公约 (gōngyuē) refers to a formal agreement or convention, typically between nations or organizations, that outlines mutual commitments or principles. It is commonly used in contexts related to international law, diplomacy, and treaties, emphasizing the idea of shared responsibilities or standards.

Strokes10Frequency#20564DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The concept of 公约 is deeply rooted in China's participation in international organizations like the United Nations, where various agreements are essential for maintaining diplomatic relations and promoting peace.

Memory tip

Imagine a group of people (公) coming together to make a promise (约) that they will follow certain rules. The '公' part resembles a public meeting, while '约' sounds like 'you' in English, reminding you that agreements often involve 'you and me' working together.

Meanings of 公约

gōngyuē(gong1yue1)
1convention (i.e. international agreement)
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About 公约

公约Simplified
公約Traditional
10Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 公约

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Podcast: 公约

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AI study notes for 公约

Quick Contrast

协议 (xiéyì) vs 公约 (gōngyuē): 使用协议 (xiéyì) 表示较为灵活或非正式的协议,而公约 (gōngyuē) 通常指正式的、具有法律约束力的协议。

Usage Notes

公约 is generally used in formal contexts, especially in legal or diplomatic discussions. Common mistakes include confusing it with 约定 (yuēdìng), which is less formal and implies a personal agreement. Be mindful of the tone; it is pronounced in the first and fourth tones, which can be tricky.

HSK Study Tips

While 公约 is not found in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to level 5-6 concepts such as treaties and agreements. Students should focus on understanding its usage in formal writing and discussions about international relations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 公约 with 协议 (xiéyì), which is also an agreement but usually less formal. For example, saying '我们达成了一个公约' (Wǒmen dáchéngle yīgè gōngyuē) is incorrect if the agreement is informal; instead, use 协议.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 公约

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Component characters

公gōngpublic
HSK 64 strokes八
View full entry
约yāoto make an appointment
HSK 46 strokes纟
View full entry

How to say convention (i.e. international agreement) in Chinese

“convention (i.e. international agreement)” in Chinese is公约gōngyuē

公约 (gōngyuē) refers to a formal agreement or convention, typically between nations or organizations, that outlines mutual commitments or principles. It is commonly used in contexts related to international law, diplomacy, and treaties, emphasizing the idea of shared responsibilities or standards.

When to use 公约

公约 is generally used in formal contexts, especially in legal or diplomatic discussions. Common mistakes include confusing it with 约定 (yuēdìng), which is less formal and implies a personal agreement. Be mindful of the tone; it is pronounced in the first and fourth tones, which can be tricky.

公约 or something close to it

协议 (xiéyì) vs 公约 (gōngyuē): 使用协议 (xiéyì) 表示较为灵活或非正式的协议,而公约 (gōngyuē) 通常指正式的、具有法律约束力的协议。

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 公约 with 协议 (xiéyì), which is also an agreement but usually less formal. For example, saying '我们达成了一个公约' (Wǒmen dáchéngle yīgè gōngyuē) is incorrect if the agreement is informal; instead, use 协议.

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公
约

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Cultural Notes for 公约

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, conventions often have more informal connotations and can include a broader range of agreements, whereas in Chinese culture, 公约 carries a strong legal and formal significance.

Frequently asked questions about 公约

公约 typically refers to international treaties or conventions, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change.

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