verb HSK 2
Traditional 告訴
to tell · to let know · to inform
Meaning
告诉 means to tell someone something or to inform them of information. It's one of the most fundamental communication verbs in Chinese and is used daily in casual and formal contexts alike.
Usage
告诉 is typically followed by a person (the recipient) and then the information being conveyed. It's neutral in register and appropriate for all contexts. Common pattern: 告诉 + person + content, as in 告诉我你的名字 (tell me your name).
Examples
- 01请告诉我你的电话号码。.Please tell me your phone number.
- 02老师告诉我们明天考试。.The teacher told us there's an exam tomorrow.
Characters
Common collocations
- 告诉我tell me
- 告诉他tell him/her
- 告诉你一个秘密tell you a secret
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to speech and communication. 告 originally depicted placing something before an altar or authority figure, while 诉 combines the speech radical 讠 with 斥 (to scold), together forming the meaning of speaking or telling something to someone.