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March 24, 2026
告诫(告誡)gàojiè(gao4jie4)
告诫 means 'to warn' or 'to admonish' someone about a potential danger or mistake. It is commonly used in contexts where one person is giving advice or a cautionary note to another, often out of concern for their well-being or to prevent errors.
Frequency#13459DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, giving a 告诫 is often seen as a sign of care and responsibility, especially from elders. This reflects the Confucian value of filial piety and the importance placed on teaching and guiding younger generations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wise owl (告) sitting on a branch, gently reminding a young bird (诫) not to fly too close to the ground. The owl's warning helps the bird stay safe. The sound 'gao' can remind you of 'go,' as in 'go carefully,' while 'jie' sounds like 'jet,' which could symbolize speed and the need for caution.
Meanings of 告诫
gàojiè(gao4jie4)
1to warn
2to admonish
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 告诫
告诫Simplified
告誡Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#13459Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 告诫
Podcast: 告诫
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AI Study Notes for 告诫
Quick Contrast
警告 (jǐnggào) — use 告诫 when the emphasis is on advising or admonishing gently, while 警告 is more about issuing a stern warning.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wise owl (告) sitting on a branch, gently reminding a young bird (诫) not to fly too close to the ground. The owl's warning helps the bird stay safe. The sound 'gao' can remind you of 'go,' as in 'go carefully,' while 'jie' sounds like 'jet,' which could symbolize speed and the need for caution.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 告诫 with similar words like 警告 (jǐng gào), which is more about 'alerting' rather than 'admonishing.' This word is typically used in a formal context, such as in advice from a parent to a child or a teacher to a student. Watch out for tonal errors, as the wrong tone can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 告诫 connects well with other words related to advice and caution, such as 提醒 (tí xǐng, to remind) and 劝告 (quàn gào, to advise). Focus on using it in sentences that involve giving or receiving guidance.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, giving a 告诫 is often seen as a sign of care and responsibility, especially from elders. This reflects the Confucian value of filial piety and the importance placed on teaching and guiding younger generations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 告诫 with 告诉 (gào sù, to tell), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我告诫他这个' (I tell him this) should be corrected to '我告诫他这个' (I warn him about this).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 告诫
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Grammar Patterns of 告诫
告诫 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 2 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他们反复____她，让她不要告诉任何人。
They drummed it into her that she was not to tell anyone.
Example Sentences for 告诫 (7)
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1
他们反复告诫她，让她不要告诉任何人。
tā mén fǎn fù gào jiè tā， ， ràng tā bù yào gào sù rèn hé。
They drummed it into her that she was not to tell anyone.
In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.
5
他身旁的书偶然翻开到写着圣保罗对罗马人的告诫那页。
tā shēn páng de shū ǒu rán fān kāi dào xiě zháo shèng bǎo luó duì luó mǎ rén de gào jiè nà yè。
By chance the book beside him fell open to St. Paul's warning to the Romans.
6
他意识到医生在告诫他戒酒.
tā yì shí dào yī shēng zài gào jiè tā jiè jiǔ.
He realized that his doctor was warning him off drink.
7
他告诫自己这种难受的感觉正好是全愈的先兆.
tā gào jiè zì jǐ zhè zhǒng nán shòu de gǎn jué zhèng hǎo shì quán yù de xiān zhào.
He told himself that it was with the pang which procedes recovery.
Cultural Notes for 告诫
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, giving a 告诫 is often seen as a sign of care and responsibility, especially from elders. This reflects the Confucian value of filial piety and the importance placed on teaching and guiding younger generations.
Frequently Asked Questions about 告诫
While it is often used in formal contexts, it can also be applied in everyday conversations when giving advice.
Yes, it can be used to warn someone in an urgent situation, but it is more commonly associated with preventative advice.
Some synonyms include 警告 (jǐng gào, to alert) and 劝告 (quàn gào, to advise), but each has slightly different connotations.
