gung1 si1 fan1 ming4公私分明
Jyutpinggung1 si1 fan1 ming4
Yalegūng sī fān mìhng
Definition
Making a clear distinction between public and private affairs, or between professional and personal matters.
neutralwork
How it's used
This idiom describes someone who maintains a strict boundary between their personal relationships and their professional duties. It is often used as a compliment to praise a colleague or boss for their integrity and fairness. It implies that the person does not let feelings or personal connections influence their decision making in a work environment.
Examples
He is very professional and keeps his private life separate from work, so he won't show favoritism.
Do you think he is professional enough in keeping his public and private matters separate at work?
Related words
Common phrases
to be a person who keeps public and private matters separate
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
