Translation and Meaning of: 公募 - koubo

If you are studying Japanese or curious about the language, you may have come across the word 公募[こうぼ]. It often appears in formal and professional contexts, but its meaning goes beyond a simple translation. In this article, we will explore what this word represents, how it is used in everyday Japanese, and what its cultural peculiarities are. You will discover everything from the composition of the kanji to practical tips for memorizing it.

Meaning and use of 公募

The word 公募[こうぼ] is made up of the kanjis 公 (public) and 募 (recruit, summon). Together, they convey the idea of a "public call" or "open contest." In Japan, this term is widely used in contexts such as job postings, artistic competitions, and even selections for cultural events.

Unlike words like 採用 (recruitment), which refer to internal company processes, 公募 implies an opening to the general public. For example, Japanese universities often announce positions for researchers with the term 公募教授 (publicly recruited professor). This detail shows how the word carries a democratic and inclusive sense.

Origin and Evolution of the term

The combination of the kanjis 公 and 募 is not recent. Historical records indicate that it emerged during the Meiji period (1868-1912), when Japan underwent modernizing reforms. At that time, the government began to adopt more transparent processes for selecting public officials, moving away from the hereditary system of the shogunate.

Interestingly, the kanji 募 also appears in words like 募集 (recruitment), but with a different nuance. While 募集 can be used even for informal invitations among friends, 公募 maintains an official character. This subtle distinction is important for those who want to sound natural when speaking Japanese.

How to memorize 公募 efficiently

an effective technique to remember this word is to associate the kanji 公 with "public" (as in 公園 - public park) and 募 with "gathering of people" (observable in 募金 - fundraising). Creating mental sentences like "a public contest gathers many people" helps to link the concepts.

Another practical tip is to notice how 公募 often appears accompanied by other specific words. Expressions like 公募要項 (announcement of the contest) or 公募作品 (works submitted for the contest) form fixed combinations that, once learned, make the vocabulary more solid. Repeating these combinations aloud can speed up the memorization process.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 募集 (Boshū) - Job offer; call for applications.
• 求人 (Kyūjin) - Job opening; announcing an available position.
• 募集要項 (Boshū Yōkō) - Guidelines or requirements for applying for a job position.

公募

Romaji: koubo
Kana: こうぼ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: public appeal; public contribution

Meaning in English: public appeal;public contribution

Definition: When a company requests job openings without posting job ads.

Example Sentences - (公募) koubo

See below some example sentences:

公募で新しい人材を募集します。

Koubo de atarashii jintai wo boshuu shimasu

We are recruiting new talent through a public offering.

We are looking for new human resources for an open call for participants.

• 公募 - means "public summons".
• で - is a particle that indicates the means or method used to carry out the action.
• 新しい - means "new" or "recent".
• 人材 - means "personnel" or "human resources".
• を - is a particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
• 募集します - means "to recruit" or "to seek out".