[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Society-and-Culture \ #Language # 告 gào tell; inform, notify ## Components [[牛 niú]] [[牛 (niú)]] [[口 (kǒu)]] [[口 kǒu]] ## Meaning In contemporary usage, "告" (gào) means to inform, report, or announce. It is often associated with advertising, as in 广告 (guǎnggào), meaning advertisement. Additionally, it can also mean to tell or communicate. ## History "Gào" originally depicted a mouth and a cow, symbolizing praying to gods by sacrificing cows or sheep. Over time, it evolved into its current form, "告," which means to pray, communicate, or request. It can also mean to report or inform. In ancient times, due to the danger posed by bulls, fences were put up around cowsheds to warn people not to get too close. This led to the extended meaning of "告" to report or tell. Today, "告" is closely associated with advertising, making it one of the most significant aspects of modern social life. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[告 gào - ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[告 gào - bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[告 gào - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[告 gào - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[告 gào - reg.svg]]