gào: 告 - To Tell, To Announce, To Sue

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).

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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).