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字源zìyuánEtymology — Ox-Head Over Mouth
字源洞见 zìyuán dòngjiàn · Etymological Insight
The oracle-bone form of 告 shows an ox head (牛 niú) above a mouth (口 kǒu). The classical interpretation: when a man presents an ox as a ritual offering or gift to a superior (a lord, an ancestor, the spirits), he simultaneously speaks the reason for the offering. The speaking that accompanies a solemn presentation is 告: to announce, to declare, to make known to a person of higher standing.
This origin explains why 告 carries a strong sense of directionality. The communication flows upward or outward with authority. You 告 a superior, an official, a court, or the public. It is not casual speech but announced speech: a report filed, a charge leveled, a warning issued, an advertisement placed.
核心义héxīn yìCore Meanings — Tell, Announce, Accuse
义场 yìchǎng · Meaning Field
To tell / inform (告诉). The everyday sense: 告诉我 (tell me), 告诉他你的想法 (tell him what you think). 告诉 gàosu is among the first verbs learners encounter.
To announce / notify (通告, 公告). Official, public-facing declarations: 公告 (public announcement), 通告 (circular notice), 布告 (posted notice). The register is formal; these appear on walls, in government documents, on websites.
To accuse / sue (控告, 告状). The legal register traces directly to the ritual origin: presenting a grievance to a superior for judgment. 告状 literally means "to file a complaint-shape," to bring a case.
To warn (警告). 警 (vigilance) + 告 (announce) = to announce vigilance. Used for everything from traffic signs to diplomatic warnings.
To bid farewell (告别). 告别 gào bié , to formally announce a parting. The formality of 告 makes this more ceremonial than 再见.
核心词组héxīn cízǔKey Compounds
告诉
gàosu
to tell · to inform
v
The workhorse verb for "tell." 告诉我你的名字 , tell me your name. Note: 诉 (to tell, to sue) adds a spoken-complaint nuance.
说 shuō , to say, speak (neutral)讲 jiǎng , to speak, explain, tell (informal)通知 tōngzhī , to notify, give notice宣布 xuānbù , to announce, declare宣告 xuāngào, to proclaim, officially announce揭发 jiēfā, to expose, reveal wrongdoing举报 jǔbào, to report (wrongdoing) to authorities广guǎngwide; broad; to spread (paired with 告 in 广告 advertising)