告

gào: 告 - To Tell, To Announce, To Sue

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 告, gào, tell in Chinese, announce in Chinese, sue in Chinese, report in Chinese, inform Chinese, 告诉, 广告, 报告, 警告, Chinese character for inform, what does gao mean
  • Summary: A deep dive into the versatile Chinese character 告 (gào). While its most basic meaning is “to tell,” 告 is a powerful verb that extends to more formal and serious actions like “to announce,” “to report,” and even “to sue” or “to file a complaint.” Understanding 告 is key to grasping formal communication in Chinese, as it appears in essential words like 广告 (guǎnggào, advertisement), 报告 (bàogào, report), and 警告 (jǐnggào, warning).

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): gào
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: To tell, inform, announce, report, or sue.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of 告 (gào) as the act of formally conveying important information. It's a step above the casual `说 (shuō)` (to say). When you use 告, you are not just making noise; you are transferring knowledge with a clear purpose. This could be telling someone a crucial piece of news, making an official announcement to a group, submitting a report to a superior, or taking the serious step of lodging a legal complaint against someone.

Character Breakdown

  • 告 (gào): This character is a great example of a pictograph. It's composed of 牛 (niú) on top, meaning “ox” or “cow,” and 口 (kǒu) on the bottom, meaning “mouth.” One traditional explanation is that in ancient times, an ox head was presented during rituals or important ceremonies when making a solemn announcement to the gods or the public. Thus, the character combines the idea of a significant event (the ox) with the act of speaking (the mouth) to mean “to announce” or “to inform.”

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The character 告 (gào) carries a weight of formality and often implies a specific social or hierarchical structure. In Chinese culture, the way information is transmitted can be as important as the information itself. Using a word with 告 often signals that the communication is official, serious, or moving through a proper channel.
  • For instance, a child `告状 (gàozhuàng)` (tattling) to a parent is appealing to a higher authority to solve a dispute. An employee submitting a `报告 (bàogào)` (report) to a boss is following an established protocol. This contrasts with the more egalitarian feel of the English verb “to tell,” which can be used between any two people without necessarily implying a power dynamic. While you can “tell” your boss something, the Chinese equivalent often uses more specific, formal language that acknowledges the relationship, and 告 is a core component of that formal vocabulary. It reflects a society where roles and proper channels of communication are clearly defined.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • General Informing: The most common form is `告诉 (gàosu)`, which directly means “to tell” someone something. This is used in everyday conversation.
  • Public and Commercial Announcements: 告 is the heart of words related to mass communication. `广告 (guǎnggào)` literally means “broad announcement,” or advertisement. `公告 (gōnggào)` is a “public announcement,” often seen on government websites or community bulletin boards.
  • Formal Reporting: In business, academia, and government, `报告 (bàogào)` is a report you give to a superior or an audience. The verb is `做报告 (zuò bàogào)` (to give a report).
  • Legal and Disciplinary Actions: This is where 告 takes on its most serious tone. To `告 (gào)` someone can mean to sue them. A `警告 (jǐnggào)` is a formal warning. The plaintiff in a case is the `原告 (yuángào)` (the original accuser), and the defendant is the `被告 (bèigào)` (the one being accused).
  • Formal Departures: In more formal or literary contexts, you might hear `告别 (gàobié)` (to bid farewell) or `告辞 (gàocí)` (to take one's leave), which is like formally announcing your departure.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 你能告诉我现在几点了吗？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ néng gàosu wǒ xiànzài jǐ diǎn le ma?
    • English: Can you tell me what time it is now?
    • Analysis: This is the most common and neutral use of 告 in the compound `告诉 (gàosu)`. It's a simple, everyday request for information.
  • Example 2:
    • 我不喜欢电视上没完没了的广告。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ bù xǐhuān diànshì shàng méiwánméiliǎo de guǎnggào.
    • English: I don't like the endless advertisements on TV.
    • Analysis: Here, 告 is part of `广告 (guǎnggào)`, meaning “advertisement.” It shows how the core meaning of “to announce” is applied to commerce.
  • Example 3:
    • 他因为合同问题，决定去告那家公司。
    • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi hétong wèntí, juédìng qù gào nà jiā gōngsī.
    • English: Because of contract issues, he decided to sue that company.
    • Analysis: In this sentence, 告 stands alone as a verb and takes on its serious legal meaning: “to sue” or “to bring a lawsuit against.”
  • Example 4:
    • 老师，小明上课说话，我要告状！
    • Pinyin: Lǎoshī, Xiǎo Míng shàngkè shuōhuà, wǒ yào gàozhuàng!
    • English: Teacher, Xiao Ming was talking in class, I want to tattle on him!
    • Analysis: `告状 (gàozhuàng)` is a common phrase meaning “to tattle” or “to file a complaint.” It's often used by children but can also refer to formally reporting misconduct to an authority figure.
  • Example 5:
    • 医生告知他需要休息至少一个星期。
    • Pinyin: Yīshēng gàozhī tā xūyào xiūxi zhìshǎo yī gè xīngqī.
    • English: The doctor informed him that he needed to rest for at least a week.
    • Analysis: `告知 (gàozhī)` is a more formal version of “to inform.” It's often used by professionals or in official notices.
  • Example 6:
    • 公司门口贴了一张重要公告。
    • Pinyin: Gōngsī ménkǒu tiē le yī zhāng zhòngyào gōnggào.
    • English: An important public announcement was posted at the company entrance.
    • Analysis: A `公告 (gōnggào)` is an official announcement for everyone to see. The “gōng” (公) means public.
  • Example 7:
    • 这个项目的最终结果，我会写成报告交给你。
    • Pinyin: Zhè ge xiàngmù de zuìzhōng jiéguǒ, wǒ huì xiě chéng bàogào jiāo gěi nǐ.
    • English: I will write the final results of this project into a report and give it to you.
    • Analysis: `报告 (bàogào)` is a noun for “report.” It's a formal document that “reports and informs.”
  • Example 8:
    • 因为他迟到太多次，经理给了他一次口头警告。
    • Pinyin: Yīnwèi tā chídào tài duō cì, jīnglǐ gěi le tā yī cì kǒutóu jǐnggào.
    • English: Because he was late too many times, the manager gave him a verbal warning.
    • Analysis: A `警告 (jǐnggào)` is a warning, an announcement meant to alert someone to a potential negative consequence.
  • Example 9:
    • 在离开家乡前，他去向所有的亲戚朋友告别。
    • Pinyin: Zài líkāi jiāxiāng qián, tā qù xiàng suǒyǒu de qīnqi péngyǒu gàobié.
    • English: Before leaving his hometown, he went to bid farewell to all his relatives and friends.
    • Analysis: `告别 (gàobié)` means “to bid farewell.” It's the act of formally announcing one's departure.
  • Example 10:
    • 在法庭上，原告和被告都陈述了自己的观点。
    • Pinyin: Zài fǎtíng shàng, yuángào hé bèigào dōu chénshùle zìjǐ de guāndiǎn.
    • English: In the courtroom, both the plaintiff and the defendant stated their own points of view.
    • Analysis: This shows the legal roles derived from 告. `原告 (yuángào)` is the accuser, and `被告 (bèigào)` is the one being accused.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 告 (gào) vs. 说 (shuō) vs. 讲 (jiǎng): This is a critical distinction for learners.
    • `说 (shuō)`: “To say” or “to speak.” Focuses on the physical act of talking. (e.g., `他说中文 - Tā shuō Zhōngwén` - He speaks Chinese).
    • `讲 (jiǎng)`: “To tell a story” or “to explain.” Focuses on the content and narrative. (e.g., `他讲了一个笑话 - Tā jiǎng le yī gè xiàohuà` - He told a joke).
    • `告 (gào)` / `告诉 (gàosu)`: “To inform” or “to tell.” Focuses on the transmission of specific information to a recipient. (e.g., `他告诉我一个秘密 - Tā gàosu wǒ yī gè mìmì` - He told me a secret).
    • Common Mistake: Saying `*我想告你一个故事` (*Wǒ xiǎng gào nǐ yī gè gùshì*). This is incorrect. For telling a story, you must use `讲 (jiǎng)`. The correct sentence is `我想给你讲一个故事 (Wǒ xiǎng gěi nǐ jiǎng yī gè gùshì)`.
  • Using 告 (gào) alone: While `告诉 (gàosu)` is the common word for “to tell,” using 告 by itself as a verb is very specific. It almost always means “to sue,” “to file a complaint,” or “to report (to a higher authority).” Don't use it to mean “to tell” in a casual conversation.
    • Incorrect: `*我告你，我今天很忙` (*Wǒ gào nǐ, wǒ jīntiān hěn máng*).
    • Correct: `我告诉你，我今天很忙 (Wǒ gàosu nǐ, wǒ jīntiān hěn máng)`.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 告诉 (gàosu) - The most common, everyday word for “to tell” someone something.
  • 广告 (guǎnggào) - Advertisement. Literally a “wide announcement.”
  • 报告 (bàogào) - A report (noun); to report (verb). A formal presentation of information.
  • 警告 (jǐnggào) - A warning. An announcement intended to make someone vigilant.
  • 原告 (yuángào) - Plaintiff in a lawsuit. The one who initiates the “accusing.”
  • 被告 (bèigào) - Defendant in a lawsuit. The one who is “being accused.”
  • 告别 (gàobié) - To bid farewell. A formal way of “announcing one's departure.”
  • 告状 (gàozhuàng) - To tattle or file a formal complaint.
  • 通知 (tōngzhī) - To notify or inform. A close synonym, often used for written notices or official updates.
  • 宣布 (xuānbù) - To declare or announce. A very formal term, often used by people in authority (e.g., a judge announcing a verdict, a country declaring independence).