公
コウ, ク, おおやけ, あきら, き, きみ, きん, たか, ただし, とも, ひろ, まさ

public, prince, official, governmental

JLPT4 G2 S4 F118

Originally, 八 split right and left + 口# mouth/hole (→ space) → *open* space in which (divided groups of) people gather → *public* → *fair*; *official*; *governmental*.

[Full Kanji Etymology List]