公安
gōng ān · HSK 6
public safety
👮 公 = public + 安 = peace/safety; together = public security
公 means public or shared (think 公园 public park), and 安 means peace or safety (woman 女 under a roof 宀). Combined, 公安 is the official term for Public Security — the police ministry that keeps public order.
公 — eight 八 + private 厶
Originally an ideograph showing 八 (to divide) over 厶 (private/self), depicting the act of splitting away from selfish interest. The combination came to mean 'public' or 'fair,' the opposite of private. It later extended to senses like 'duke,' 'lord,' and 'grandfather.'
安 — roof 宀 + woman 女
A pictographic compound showing a woman 女 under a roof 宀, suggesting safety and tranquility at home. The original meaning 'peaceful, calm, safe' has remained stable since oracle bone script. It later extended to verbs like 'to settle' or 'to install'.