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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.
Strokes14Frequency#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.
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.
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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How Well Do You Know 告诉?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 告诉 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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.
When to use 告诉
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.
告诉 or something close to it
通知 (tōngzhī) — use 告诉 for informal communication, while 通知 is more formal and often used for official announcements.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 告诉
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.
