廉洁奉公
lián jié fèng gōng
honest and devoted to public duty
Character by character
廉lián
honest
honest
洁jié
clean
clean
奉fèng
serve
serve
公gōng
the public
the public
Example
老县长廉洁奉公，退休时家里连一件像样的家具都没有。
The old county head was honest and devoted to his duty; when he retired he did not own a single decent piece of furniture.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
A stock phrase of official praise, citations and obituaries, often paired as 廉洁奉公、勤政为民. Used of officials and public employees, hardly ever of private people.
Learn this in Lesson 197 · HSK 7–9: 监察委员会 (The supervision commissions)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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