Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

to tell; to inform; to say

Chinese: 告诉、报告或请求。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “gao” becomes a different word in each tone. 告 is the 4th tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 告诉gào sùto press charges; to file a complaint
  • 广告guǎng gàoto advertise; a commercial; advertisement
  • 报告bào gàoto inform; to report; to make known; report
  • 告别gào biéto leave; to part from; to bid farewell to; to say goodbye to
  • 转告zhuǎn gàoto pass on; to communicate; to transmit

Example Sentence

请告诉我你的地址。Qǐng gào su wǒ nǐ de dì zhǐ.Please tell me your address.

Qǐngto ask告诉gào suto press chargesIyoudeof地址dì zhǐaddress

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

牛 (ox) over 口 (mouth): traditionally an offering announced aloud. It means ‘to tell, inform; to announce, declare; to accuse, sue; to request (告假)’ (告诉, 报告, 广告).

A way to remember it

‘To tell / announce’: 告诉 (tell), 广告 (advertisement).