Word Number 9
tell
Primary Chinese
告诉
Primary Pinyin
gào su
Short Definition
To communicate information to a person or group identified as recipient.
Primary Meaning
把信息告知他人
Primary Note
Recipient-oriented speech action.
Mapping Boundary
Correct: Mother tell family → 妈妈告诉家人。
Incorrect: Treat tell as interchangeable with say in every context.
Tell selects recipient semantics.