告 — Inform, Announce

Meaning

The kanji 告 (koku, tsu.geru) fundamentally means 'to inform,' 'to announce,' 'to tell,' or 'to report.' It signifies the act of formally or officially conveying information, often with a sense of gravity or importance. Its usage ranges from a simple piece of news to a solemn declaration, an advertisement, or even a confession. At its core, it's about making something known to others.

Its etymological origin is quite interesting, reflecting its serious connotations. 告 is an ideogrammatic compound (会意文字, kaiimoji). It is composed of two main parts: the top component and the bottom component 口 (kuchi, mouth). The top part historically resembled 牛 (ushi, cow or ox). Over time, it simplified, now looking somewhat like 士, meaning 'samurai' or 'scholar', with an extra horizontal stroke. Tradition suggests that in ancient China, important announcements or oaths to the gods often involved the sacrifice of an ox. Thus, the 'ox' symbol at the top represented the solemn context of such an event, while the 'mouth' symbol below signified the act of speaking or declaring. Therefore, 告 originally depicted a formal and significant declaration made through speech, often associated with a ritualistic or important occasion.

This historical context helps explain why 告 appears in words like 報告 (report) or 告白 (confession)—actions that carry significant weight and a formal quality. The visual shape of the mouth below the 'sacrificial ox' element effectively conveys the idea of a weighty message being pronounced. With 7 strokes, this kanji is taught in the 4th grade in Japanese elementary schools, making it a Kyouiku Kanji.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

The primary On'yomi for 告 is コクKOKU. This reading is used extensively in formal, Sino-Japanese compound words. It typically carries the nuance of 'announcement,' 'report,' 'notification,' or 'declaration,' often in a public or official capacity.

• 広告こうこく (kōkoku) — advertisement, publicity. This compound literally means 'wide announcement,' referring to public notices that promote products, services, or events. For example, テレビの広告こうこく (terebi no kōkoku) means 'TV advertisement.'
• 報告ほうこく (hōkoku) — report, statement. This refers to formally conveying information or findings, often in business or official settings. For example, 会議かいぎで状況じょうきょうを報告ほうこくする (kaigi de jōkyō o hōkoku suru) means 'to report on the situation at the meeting.'
• 忠告ちゅうこく (chūkoku) — advice, warning. This implies a sincere, often critical piece of advice or caution given for someone's benefit. For instance, 友達ともだちの忠告ちゅうこくを聞きく (tomodachi no chūkoku o kiku) means 'to listen to a friend's advice.'
• 宣告せんこく (senkoku) — verdict, sentence, proclamation. This is a very formal and authoritative declaration, often used in legal contexts, such as a court's verdict. For example, 裁判さいばんで無罪むざいの宣告せんこくが下くだされた (saiban de muzai no senkoku ga kudasa reta) means 'a verdict of not guilty was pronounced at the trial.'

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

The primary Kun'yomi for 告 is つ.げるtsu.geru. This native Japanese verb means 'to tell,' 'to inform,' or 'to announce.' It can be used in a wide range of situations, from casual to formal, often implying a direct verbal transmission of information.

• 告げるつげる (tsugeru) — to tell, to inform, to announce. This is the plain verb form. For example, 彼女かのじょに気持きもちを告つげる (kanojo ni kimochi o tsugeru) means 'to tell her one's feelings.'
• 夜明よあけを告つげる (yoake o tsugeru) — to announce the dawn. This idiomatic expression refers to something—like a bird's song or a bell—signaling the arrival of dawn. For instance, 鳥とりのさえずりさえずりが夜明よあけを告つげる (tori no saezuri ga yoake o tsugeru) means 'the chirping of birds announces the dawn.'
• 別わかれを告つげる (wakare o tsugeru) — to say goodbye, to take one's leave. This phrase indicates the act of formally or emotionally parting ways with someone or something. For instance, 故郷こきょうに別わかれを告つげる (kokyō ni wakare o tsugeru) means 'to say goodbye to one's hometown.'

Common Words & Compounds

The kanji 告 is integral to many Japanese words, especially those related to communication, information dissemination, and formal declarations. Below are some common words and compounds, categorized by their thematic usage:

General Communication and Information

• 広告こうこく (kōkoku) — advertisement, publicity. This term is ubiquitous in modern society, referring to any form of public announcement designed to promote goods, services, or ideas. It often evokes visual media like TV commercials or magazine ads.
• 告知こくち (kokuchi) — notice, announcement. This word implies a direct and often brief notification, frequently used for medical diagnoses or event announcements. For example, 病名びょうめいの告知こくち (byōmei no kokuchi) means 'notification of a disease's name,' or イベントいべんとの告知こくち (ibento no kokuchi) for 'event announcement.'
• 告白こくはく (kokuhaku) — confession, declaration (especially of love). This term carries a strong emotional weight, referring to the act of revealing one's true feelings or admitting a truth. It's famously used for 愛あいの告白こくはく (ai no kokuhaku), 'love confession.'
• 報告ほうこく (hōkoku) — report, statement. This is a crucial term in professional and academic settings, signifying the formal presentation of information, findings, or progress. It often involves objective data and structured delivery.

Legal and Formal Declarations

• 宣告せんこく (senkoku) — verdict, sentence, proclamation. This term denotes a definitive and authoritative declaration, most commonly found in legal contexts, such as when a judge delivers a sentence or ruling.
• 告訴こくそ (kokuso) — accusation, complaint, prosecution. This refers to the act of filing a formal legal complaint or accusation against someone, initiating legal proceedings. For instance, 詐欺さぎで告訴こくそする (sagi de kokuso suru) means 'to press charges for fraud.'
• 告発こくはつ (kokuhatsu) — accusation, indictment, charge. Similar to 告訴, but often used to expose wrongdoing or bring a public charge against someone, often with a sense of scandal or public outcry. For example, 汚職おしょくを告発こくはつする (oshoku o kokuhatsu suru) means 'to expose corruption.'

Advice and Warnings

• 忠告ちゅうこく (chūkoku) — advice, warning. This implies a piece of counsel given out of concern for someone's well-being or improvement, sometimes unsolicited. For example, 先輩せんぱいの忠告ちゅうこく (senpai no chūkoku) means 'senior's advice.'
• 警告けいこく (keikoku) — warning, caution. This is a stronger form of warning, indicating a potential danger or negative consequence if certain actions are not taken or ceased. It is often issued by authorities or systems, such as a warning sign. For instance, 危険きけんを警告けいこくする (kiken o keikoku suru) means 'to warn of danger.'

Reporting and Informing Verbs/Nouns

• 通告つうこく (tsūkoku) — notice, notification. This is a general term for conveying information, often official, to a specific party or public. For example, 退職たいしょくの通告つうこく (taishoku no tsūkoku) means 'notice of resignation.'
• 申告しんこく (shinkoku) — declaration, report. Commonly used for official declarations, such as tax declarations (税金申告ぜいきんしんこく). It implies the act of formally stating facts or figures.
• 告つげ口ぐち (tsugeguchi) — telling tales, tattling. This informal term refers to informing someone (often a superior) about another's misdeeds, carrying a negative connotation of being a 'snitch.' For example, 先生せんせいに告つげ口ぐちする (sensei ni tsugeguchi suru) means 'to tattle to the teacher.'

Example Sentences

Memory Tip

To remember 告, visualize its components: the top part (resembling 士 or a slightly modified 牛) and the bottom 口 (mouth). A simple mnemonic is to think of a "mouth" (口) making an important "announcement" (告), perhaps one that required a solemn oath involving an "ox" (牛, simplified in the top part). Alternatively, imagine a "scholar" (士) standing firm, using their "mouth" (口) to "inform" or "declare" a significant truth. The key is to associate the act of speaking (mouth) with a serious or formal context (the top element) to cement the meaning of 'to inform' or 'to announce' in your mind.