公事公办
gōng shì gōng bàn
business is business; by the book
Character by character
公gōng
public
public
事shì
matter
matter
公gōng
public
public
办bàn
handle
handle
Example
咱们是朋友，但这件事得公事公办。
We are friends, but this has to be done by the book.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Refusing to bend rules for personal ties (关系).
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