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March 24, 2026
告诉(告訴)gàosu(gao4su5)
告诉 (gàosù) means 'to tell' or 'to inform' someone about something. It is commonly used in everyday conversations when sharing information or giving instructions. The verb can also imply notifying someone about important matters or events.
Frequency#71DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sharing information is often seen as a way to build relationships. Telling someone important news or updates can indicate trust and strengthen bonds between individuals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding a loudspeaker (告) and shouting out information (诉) to everyone nearby. This image connects the character to its meaning of informing others and helps remember the pronunciation 'gàosù'.
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AI Study Notes for 告诉
Quick Contrast
通知 (tōngzhī) — use 告诉 for informal communication, while 通知 is more formal and often used for official announcements.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person holding a loudspeaker (告) and shouting out information (诉) to everyone nearby. This image connects the character to its meaning of informing others and helps remember the pronunciation 'gàosù'.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 告诉 is used in informal and formal contexts, but it's typically not used in very formal writing. Common mistakes include confusing it with the similar verb 说 (shuō), which means 'to say'. Remember that 告诉 requires a direct object, so you must specify who you are telling.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK level 2 word, 告诉 is essential for basic communication. It connects well with other verbs like 说 (to say) and 告 (to announce), making it a useful addition to your vocabulary for expressing information sharing.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sharing information is often seen as a way to build relationships. Telling someone important news or updates can indicate trust and strengthen bonds between individuals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to include a direct object, saying '我告诉' without specifying who they're telling. The correct form is '我告诉他' (I tell him). Another mistake is using it in overly formal contexts, where 说 may be more appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 告诉
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Grammar Patterns of 告诉
告诉 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
gào sù nǐ bā， ， wǒ de bèi kě ràng wǒ shòu gòu zuì！
My back's giving me hell, let me tell you!
7
只需拨这个号码告诉我们你在什么地方。
zhī xū bō zhè gè hào mǎ gào sù wǒ mén nǐ zài shí mó dì fāng。
Simply dial the number and tell us your area.
8
但是我告诉你它们是没用的。
dàn shì wǒ gào sù nǐ tā mén shì méi yòng de。
But I put it to you that they're useless.
9
啊？怎么了？你要告诉我我刚才做了什么吗？
ā？ ？ zěn mó？ le ？ nǐ yào gào sù wǒ wǒ gāng cái zuò le shí？
Huh? What's going on? You want to tell me what I did?
10
我来告诉你我昨晚见到了什么。
wǒ lái gào sù nǐ wǒ zuó wǎn jiàn dào le shí mó。
Let me tell you what I saw last night.
Cultural Notes for 告诉
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, sharing information is often seen as a way to build relationships. Telling someone important news or updates can indicate trust and strengthen bonds between individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions about 告诉
No, 告诉 can be used for any type of information, whether it's good, bad, or neutral.
No, 告诉 requires a direct object; you need to specify who you are informing.
While both mean 'to say,' 告诉 emphasizes informing and notifying someone, often implying a direct communication of information.
