公募
こうぼ · koubo · JLPT N1 · noun
entreaty
📢 公 = public + 募 = recruit/collect: a public call for contributions or applicants
公 means public and 募 means recruit or collect, so 公募 is an open call to the public for applicants or contributions. Its sound, koubo, is close to the English word co-bo.
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.'