公寓
gōngyū · HSK 7
apartment building
🏢 公 = public + 寓 = dwelling → public dwelling = apartment
公 means public/communal and 寓 means residence or dwelling. Together they name a building where many households share one structure — a public dwelling, i.e. an apartment block.
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.'