告诉

• Pinyin: gào su
• Hanzi breakdown: 告 (to announce) + 诉 (to tell) — conveying information

Meaning

To tell; to inform. Used when conveying information or a message to someone.

One of the most common verbs for sharing information. The structure is 告诉 + person + content. Cannot be used as a noun. For formal announcements, 通知 is preferred.

Examples

1. 请告诉我你的名字。 Please tell me your name.
2. 妈妈告诉我今天不上课。 Mom told me there's no class today.
3. 老师告诉我们明天考试。 The teacher told us there's an exam tomorrow.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, school, work

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 你能告诉我怎么去吗？(Can you tell me how to get there?)
• 他告诉我一个好消息。(He told me some good news.)

Don't Say

• 请告诉这件事。(Missing the person — should be 请告诉我这件事, as 告诉 needs a recipient)

Origin & History

Compound of 告 (to announce, to report) and 诉 (to tell, to inform) — both characters involve communication, reinforcing the meaning of conveying information.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal