gōng'ānbù: 公安部 - Ministry of Public Security (MPS)

• Keywords: 公安部, gonganbu, Ministry of Public Security, MPS China, Chinese police, China public security, what is the gonganbu, national police agency of China, China immigration bureau, state security.
• Summary: The 公安部 (Gōng'ānbù) is the official name for China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS). It is the country's main national police and internal security authority, a powerful ministry under the State Council. Responsible for everything from day-to-day law enforcement and traffic control to immigration, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism, the 公安部 is a fundamental institution for understanding modern governance, law, and social control in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gōng'ānbù
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Essential for news, politics, and advanced topics)
• Concise Definition: The Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China.
• In a Nutshell: “公安部” is the name for the highest-level police and domestic security organization in China. Imagine a single government ministry that combines the roles of the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, a national police headquarters, and the DMV, and you'll have a good idea of its immense scope and power. It sets national policy and oversees all local police bureaus across the country.

• 公 (gōng): This character means “public,” “common,” or “governmental.” It signifies that the organization serves the public and is an official state entity.
• 安 (ān): This character means “peace,” “safety,” or “security.” It points to the core mission of the ministry: to maintain peace and ensure security.
• 部 (bù): This character means “department,” “ministry,” or “division.” It identifies the organization as a high-level government ministry.

When combined, 公安部 (gōng'ānbù) literally translates to “Public Security Ministry,” a very direct and accurate description of its function as the state's primary institution for maintaining public order and safety.

The 公安部 (Gōng'ānbù) is far more than just a national police force; it is a cornerstone of the Chinese government's power and its emphasis on social stability. Its existence and broad mandate are deeply rooted in the political priority of 维稳 (wéiwěn) - “maintaining stability.” In the Chinese context, social harmony and order are often seen as prerequisites for economic development and national strength, and the 公安部 is the primary enforcer of this stability. Comparison to Western Concepts: A direct one-to-one comparison with a single Western agency is difficult and misleading.

• It's unlike the FBI in the U.S., because the 公安部 also oversees routine policing, traffic, and immigration, which the FBI does not.
• It's unlike a decentralized system of local police departments (e.g., NYPD, LAPD) because the 公安部 is a national, centralized ministry that sets policy for all local 公安局 (gōng'ānjú), or Public Security Bureaus.
• It's perhaps most similar to a combination of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (due to its immigration and border control functions) and the French Ministry of the Interior, which also centralizes control over national police.

The key difference lies in its role within a single-party state. The 公安部 is an arm of the state and the Communist Party, tasked with protecting not only the citizens from crime but also the state from political dissent. This gives it a much broader and more political role than most police agencies in Western democracies.

You will encounter this term primarily in formal contexts, but understanding it is key to understanding how China operates.

• In the News and Official Documents: This is where the term is most common. News reports on crime statistics, new regulations (like visa rules), national security campaigns, or major criminal investigations will always mention the 公安部.
• Distinguishing from Local Police: In daily life, an average person deals with their local 公安局 (gōng'ānjú - Public Security Bureau) or, even more locally, the 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ - local police station). One would rarely, if ever, interact directly with the national 公安部 itself. However, people understand that the rules and policies enforced by their local police originate from the 公安部 in Beijing.
• Connotation: The term is formal and neutral, carrying the weight of state authority. For most, it represents law and order. For dissidents or those critical of the government, it can be associated with surveillance and state control.

• Example 1:
  • 公安部发布了新的交通安全规定。
  • Pinyin: Gōng'ānbù fābùle xīn de jiāotōng ānquán guīdìng.
  • English: The Ministry of Public Security issued new traffic safety regulations.
  • Analysis: This is a typical example from a news report. The 公安部 is the source of national-level policy.
• Example 2:
  • 他的签证延期申请需要报送公安部出入境管理局。
  • Pinyin: Tā de qiānzhèng yánqī shēnqǐng xūyào bàosòng Gōng'ānbù Chūrùjìng Guǎnlǐjú.
  • English: His visa extension application needs to be submitted to the Exit and Entry Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security.
  • Analysis: This shows the ministry's direct role in immigration and visa affairs for foreigners in China.
• Example 3:
  • 这起特大案件引起了公安部的高度重视。
  • Pinyin: Zhè qǐ tèdà ànjiàn yǐnqǐle Gōng'ānbù de gāodù zhòngshì.
  • English: This major case has attracted the high-level attention of the Ministry of Public Security.
  • Analysis: When a criminal case is particularly serious or spans multiple provinces, the national ministry gets directly involved.
• Example 4:
  • 公安部正在全国范围内开展打击网络诈骗的专项行动。
  • Pinyin: Gōng'ānbù zhèngzài quánguó fànwéi nèi kāizhǎn dǎjī wǎngluò zhàpiàn de zhuānxiàng xíngdòng.
  • English: The Ministry of Public Security is launching a special campaign nationwide to crack down on internet fraud.
  • Analysis: This highlights the ministry's role in coordinating national-level law enforcement campaigns.
• Example 5:
  • 地方公安局的局长通常由公安部和地方政府共同管理。
  • Pinyin: Dìfāng gōng'ānjú de júzhǎng tōngcháng yóu Gōng'ānbù hé dìfāng zhèngfǔ gòngtóng guǎnlǐ.
  • English: The chiefs of local Public Security Bureaus are usually managed jointly by the Ministry of Public Security and the local government.
  • Analysis: This sentence explains the hierarchical relationship between the national ministry and local bureaus.
• Example 6:
  • 根据公安部的数据，今年的犯罪率有所下降。
  • Pinyin: Gēnjù Gōng'ānbù de shùjù, jīnnián de fànzuìlǜ yǒu suǒ xiàjiàng.
  • English: According to data from the Ministry of Public Security, the crime rate has declined this year.
  • Analysis: The 公安部 is the official source for national crime and public security statistics.
• Example 7:
  • 外国记者在华工作需要遵守公安部的相关规定。
  • Pinyin: Wàiguó jìzhě zài Huá gōngzuò xūyào zūnshǒu Gōng'ānbù de xiāngguān guīdìng.
  • English: Foreign journalists working in China must abide by the relevant regulations of the Ministry of Public Security.
  • Analysis: This shows the ministry's authority extends to regulating the activities of foreigners within China.
• Example 8:
  • 公安部发言人就此次事件回答了记者提问。
  • Pinyin: Gōng'ānbù fāyánrén jiù cǐ cì shìjiàn huídále jìzhě tíwèn.
  • English: The spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security answered reporters' questions regarding this incident.
  • Analysis: A common phrase used in formal press conferences.
• Example 9:
  • 每一张身份证都是由公安部统一监制的。
  • Pinyin: Měi yī zhāng shēnfènzhèng dōu shì yóu Gōng'ānbù tǒngyī jiānzhì de.
  • English: Every single ID card is produced under the unified supervision of the Ministry of Public Security.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the ministry's fundamental role in citizen identification and data management.
• Example 10:
  • 公安部与多国警方合作，共同打击跨国犯罪。
  • Pinyin: Gōng'ānbù yǔ duō guó jǐngfāng hézuò, gòngtóng dǎjī kuàguó fànzuì.
  • English: The Ministry of Public Security cooperates with the police of many countries to jointly combat transnational crime.
  • Analysis: This highlights the MPS's role as China's representative in international police cooperation, like with Interpol.

• Mistake 1: Confusing 公安 (gōng'ān) with 警察 (jǐngchá).
  • 警察 (jǐngchá): This means “police officer,” the person. You would say “我叫了警察” (I called the police).
  • 公安 (gōng'ān): This refers to the “public security” system or organization. It's often used as a shorthand for the police force as an entity. You report a crime to the “公安” (meaning, the public security apparatus).
  • Incorrect: `他是一个公安。` (He is a public security.)
  • Correct: `他是一个警察。` (He is a police officer.)
  • Correct: `这件事要找公安解决。` (This matter needs to be resolved by the public security [authorities].)
• Mistake 2: Using 公安部 (Gōng'ānbù) for local police.
  • 公安部 (Gōng'ānbù): The national *Ministry* in Beijing.
  • 公安局 (Gōng'ānjú): The city or provincial level *Public Security Bureau* (PSB).
  • 派出所 (Pàichūsuǒ): The neighborhood *local police station*.
  • Incorrect: `我的护照丢了，我得去公安部。` (My passport is lost, I have to go to the Ministry of Public Security.) This is like saying you need to go to the Pentagon because you got a parking ticket.
  • Correct: `我的护照丢了，我得去当地的公安局出入境管理处。` (My passport is lost, I have to go to the local Public Security Bureau's Exit-Entry Administration office.)

• 公安局 (gōng'ānjú) - Public Security Bureau (PSB). The provincial or municipal branch of the police force that reports to the 公安部.
• 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ) - The local police station or precinct; the most grassroots level of the public security system.
• 警察 (jǐngchá) - The general term for a police officer; the person or profession.
• 国家安全部 (guójiā ānquán bù) - The Ministry of State Security (MSS). A separate and more secretive ministry responsible for foreign intelligence and counter-espionage. Often compared to the CIA and MI6.
• 维稳 (wéiwěn) - “To maintain stability.” A core political concept in China that is a primary mission of the 公安部.
• 户口 (hùkǒu) - The household registration system that tracks citizens' residence, a key tool of social management administered by the 公安部.
• 身份证 (shēnfènzhèng) - The national identity card, a required document for all adult citizens, issued and managed by the 公安部.
• 武警 (wǔjǐng) - The People's Armed Police. A paramilitary gendarmerie force responsible for internal security, riot control, and guarding important locations, operating under the command of the Central Military Commission. They work closely with the 公安部.
• 城管 (chéngguǎn) - Urban administration officers. Not police, but municipal workers who enforce non-criminal city regulations like illegal street vending. They are often confused with police but have far less authority.