1.
public and private; official and personal
The two spheres of public (official, work-related) and private (personal) life. Often used to discuss the balance or separation between the two.
Composed of 公 (public, official) + 私 (private, personal). A compact compound that refers to both spheres of life and is often used to discuss the relationship between them.
Common collocations
- 公私を分ける: to separate work and personal life
- 公私混同: mixing public and private matters (negative connotation)
- 公私ともに: both publicly and privately
- 公私にわたって: across both public and private domains
Usage
Often appears in workplace discussions about professionalism. 公私混同 (blurring the line between public and private) is considered unprofessional in Japanese business culture — for example, using company resources for personal purposes or letting personal relationships affect business decisions.