告 (gào) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

告

gào[gao4]Tone 4

to tell, to announce, to sue

HSK 1

Guru Deep Dive

English · to tell, to announce, to sue

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Topology:Top-bottom

Strokes:7

Writing Balance Rule: Keep the top element (牛) slightly wider and squat, while the bottom element (口) remains compact and centered beneath it to prevent the character from feeling top-heavy.

1. Meaning

to tell; to inform; to announce

to reportto denounceto file a lawsuit; to sue

VerbNeutralBound morpheme#communication#legal#actions

Sample Usage

请告诉我。
Qǐng gàosù wǒ.
Please tell me.
告别
gàobié
to say goodbye; to bid farewell

2. Sound

/[kaʊ̯⁵¹]/Tone: 51

告

gàogao4

`(51)

=gào

Initial Consonant

Type: Unaspirated Velar

Sounds like: hard g sound as in 'go'

Unaspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: No burst of air (sounds like 'c' in Vietnamese 'cá' or 'k' in English 'skate').

Tongue & Mouth Position: Back of the tongue raises to contact the soft palate, releasing without a burst of breath.

Final Rhyme

Vowel Group: -a vowel group

Sounds like: -ao rhymes with ow in 'cow'

Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ow'.

Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.

Tone

T4 (51)

5 → 1 (51)

4th Tone (High-Falling)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and drops immediately to the bottom, much like a sharp, commanding 'No!' in English.

👂

Listening trap: Confusing the 4th tone (gào) with the 1st tone (gāo - tall/high) or 3rd tone (gǎo - to do/make). Make sure the pitch drops steeply and never rises.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: A sharp, definitive chop downward with your hand, mirroring a stern command or a sudden announcement.

3. Writing

Topology: Top-bottom · Strokes: 7 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: Keep the top element (牛) slightly wider and squat, while the bottom element (口) remains compact and centered beneath it to prevent the character from feeling top-heavy.

4. Components

Radical 口 · Mouth Radical (mouth, opening)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 口 (indicates speaking, reporting, or announcing with the mouth)

An ox (牛) opens its mouth (口) to bellow an important warning or announcement to the farm.

𠂉 top adornment / horns shape
牛 ox / cow
口 mouth

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

14· Phonetic Root: 告 (gào)

5. History

Liushu category: Compound ideogram (会意)

Origin: Oracle bone forms show an ox (牛) paired with a mouth or speech symbol, reflecting the ancient practice of making an announcement or sacrifice involving cattle, or an ox bellowing loudly.

Semantic Evolution: Originally referring to an official report or declaration, it broadened to general telling, informing, and legal accusing (suing).

In ancient rituals, important news or treaties were often proclaimed alongside sacrifices of oxen.

6. Sinosphere

🇻🇳

Sino-Vietnamese

cáo

Mandarin Tone 4 corresponds roughly to Vietnamese sắc or nặng tone directionality.

🇯🇵

Kanji (Japanese)

On: コク (koku) / Kun: つげ.る (tsuɡe.ru)

🇰🇷

Hanja (Korean)

고

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

Picture an angry OX (牛) standing in the middle of the village square, opening its big MOUTH (口) to GÂU GÂU (bark/bellow) a loud public ANNOUNCEMENT to everyone!

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

浩

hàogrand, vastAdd water (氵) to show vast, rushing waters.

造

zàoto build, to createAdd movement radical (⻌) to represent moving forward to create something.

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

造(zào)

造 has the walking/movement radical (⻌) on the left, whereas 告 has an ox (牛) on top of a mouth (口).

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

老师[___]我们明天不用上课。

Clue: gào sù

Common Learner Pitfall

Mistaking the top component for 'shǒu' (hand) instead of 'niú' (ox without the vertical line passing through) or forgetting the bottom mouth box.

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see 告, what core communication actions come to mind?

Production: How do you write the character for 'to tell / to report' using an ox and a mouth?

告gàoto tell, to announce, to sue

Speed:

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