====== 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 **gào**su 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 **gào**zhuàng!
    * 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 **gào**zhī 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).