Usage note
告诉用于向别人传达信息或想法。
gào sù yòng yú xiàng běn rén chán dá xìn xī huò xiǎng fǎ.
告诉 is used to convey information or ideas to others.
Context note
告诉常用于日常生活中的对话，如告诉家人你今天过得怎么样。
gào sù cháng yòng zài rì kāi shēn qíng zhōng de huà dá, rú xiàng gào jī rén nǐ jīntiān guò dé zěn me yàng.
告诉 is commonly used in daily conversations, such as telling family members how your day went.
5 examples
妈妈告诉我她今天很开心。
mā ma gào sù wǒ tā jīn tiān hěn kāi xīn。
Mom told me she was very happy today.
老师告诉我们不要迟到。
lǎo shī gào sù wǒ men bú yào chí dào。
The teacher told us not to be late.
他告诉朋友自己生病了。
tā gào sù péng yǒu zì jǐ shēng bìng le。
He told his friend that he was sick.
我告诉爸爸我喜欢吃冰淇淋。
wǒ gào sù bà ba wǒ xǐ huan chī bīng qí lín。
I told Dad I like eating ice cream.
她告诉我她的梦想是成为一名医生。
tā gào sù wǒ tā de mèng xiǎng shì chéng wéi yì míng yī shēng。
She told me her dream is to become a doctor.
5 mini stories
小明告诉妈妈他今天在学校表现很好。
xiǎo míng gào sù mā ma tā jīn tiān zài xué xiào biǎo xiàn hěn hǎo。
Xiaoming told his mom he did well in school today.
丽丽告诉朋友她周末要去公园玩。
lì lì gào sù péng yǒu tā zhōu mò yào qù gōng yuán wán。
Lili told her friend she would go to the park this weekend.
爸爸告诉儿子他可以自己做决定。
bà ba gào sù ér zi tā kě yǐ zì jǐ zuò jué dìng。
Dad told his son he could make decisions himself.
老师告诉学生要认真听讲。
lǎo shī gào sù xué shēng yào rèn zhēn tīng jiǎng。
The teacher told the students to listen carefully.
妈妈告诉宝宝晚上早点睡觉。
mā ma gào sù bǎo bao wǎn shàng zǎo diǎn shuì jiào。
Mom told her baby to go to bed early at night.
Mini dialogue
小秘密
A
我告诉你一个秘密。
Wǒ gàosù nǐ yī gè mìmì.
I'll tell you a secret.
B
好，我不告诉别人。
Hǎo, wǒ bù gàosù biérén.
Okay, I won't tell anyone else.
问路
A
你能告诉我图书馆怎么走吗？
Nǐ néng gàosù wǒ túshūguǎn zěnme zǒu ma?
Can you tell me how to get to the library?
B
当然，我告诉你。
Dāngrán, wǒ gàosù nǐ.
Of course, I'll tell you.
Related words and contrasts
similar
说
shuō
say; speak
告诉 means to tell someone something. 说 is more general, to say or speak.
contrast
问
wèn
ask
告诉 is to tell, 问 is to ask a question.