ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY
告
to tell; to inform
gào
7 strokes · 牛 (ox) + 口 (mouth) — announcing with an offering · HSK 2
What 告 is made of
牛 + 口 = 告
牛ox / cow / awesome (slang) niú
Where 告 comes from
告 stacked an ox 牛 over a mouth 口: in one reading, the announcement made to the gods when an ox was sacrificed. Telling began as something solemn — you informed heaven before you informed people.
告 in Chinese culture
告诉 is the everyday 'to tell', but 告's formal edge survives: 广告 is an advertisement (wide-telling), 报告 a report, 告别 a farewell. To sue someone is simply 告 — informing the court.
Example
告诉 gàosu — to tell
请告诉我你的名字。
Qǐng gàosu wǒ nǐ de míngzi.
Please tell me your name.
How to remember it
An ox 牛 with a mouth 口 — solemnly TELLING the news.
广告 'wide-telling' is the word for advertising — so every billboard in China is etymologically an ox-sacrifice announcement gone commercial.
Same sound, different tones
Words unlocked by 告
告诉 gàosu
to tell
告诉我 gàosu wǒ
tell me
广告 guǎnggào
advertisement
Related characters
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