公私分明 Public and private affairs are clearly distinguished
Explanation
指公家的和私人的界限清楚，不混淆。
It means the boundary between public and private affairs is clear and not confused.
Origin Story
从前，在一个小山村里，住着一位名叫李大山的村长。李大山为人正直，公私分明。村里修路，需要征用村民的土地，李大山带头捐出了自家最好的田地。有人劝他：“村长，您这块地可是村里最好的田地，您舍得捐出来吗？”李大山笑了笑说：“修路是为村民谋福利，我作为村长，理应带头。公私分明，这是做人的基本准则。”后来，村里的路修好了，村民们都夸赞李大山是个好村长。
Once upon a time, in a small mountain village, there lived a village headman named Li Dashan. Li Dashan was an upright man, clearly distinguishing between public and private affairs. When the village needed to build a road and needed to requisition land from the villagers, Li Dashan took the lead and donated his best field. Someone advised him: "Village headman, this land is the best in the village, are you willing to donate it?" Li Dashan smiled and said: "Building a road is for the benefit of the villagers, and as the village headman, I should take the lead. Distinguishing between public and private affairs is a basic principle of being a person." Later, when the road in the village was completed, the villagers all praised Li Dashan as a good village headman.
Usage
用于形容一个人行为正直，公私分明。
Used to describe a person whose behavior is upright and clear about public and private affairs.
Examples
-
他公私分明，从不把公家的东西据为己有。
ta gongsi fenming, cong bu ba gongjia de dongxi juwei jiyou.
He is very strict about public and private matters, and never takes public things for himself.
-
做人做事要公私分明，才能赢得别人的尊重。
zuoren zuoshi yao gongsi fenming, cai neng yingde bieren de zunzhong
To live and work well, you must clearly distinguish between public and private matters to earn the respect of others.