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Kotomora

告

revelation, tell, inform, announce

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 200Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • コク

Kun'yomi

  • つ.げる

Nanori

  • い

Meaning

告 centers on making something known to others: revealing, telling, informing, or announcing. The common thread is the act of conveying information openly.

Most common words using 告

24 of 281
  • 報告ほうこく
    N3

    report; information

  • 広告こうこく
    N3

    advertisement; advertising

  • 告白こくはく
    N1

    confession (to a crime, wrongdoing, etc.); admission

  • 予告よこく
    N1

    (advance) notice; preliminary announcement; warning

  • 告知こくち
    N1

    notice; notification; announcement; disclosure; declaration

  • 警告けいこく
    N3

    warning; caution; admonition

  • 被告ひこく
    N1

    defendant; the accused

  • 告発こくはつ

    indictment; prosecution; complaint

  • 申告しんこく
    N1

    report; return (e.g. tax); statement; declaration; notification; filing

  • 宣告せんこく
    N1

    sentence; verdict; pronouncement

  • 勧告かんこく
    N1

    advice; counsel; remonstrance; recommendation

  • 告げるつげる
    N2

    to tell; to inform; to announce

  • 原告げんこく
    N1

    plaintiff; accuser; prosecutor

  • 布告ふこく
    N1

    edict; ordinance; proclamation

  • 告訴こくそ
    N1

    accusation; complaint; charge; suit; legal action; legal proceedings

  • 予告編よこくへん

    trailer (for a film, TV show, etc.); preview

  • 通告つうこく

    announcement; notice

  • 忠告ちゅうこく
    N2

    advice; warning

  • 上告じょうこく

    final appeal to the highest court

  • 告示こくじ

    notice; bulletin

  • 告別こくべつ

    farewell; leave-taking

  • 抗告こうこく

    appeal; protest; complaint

  • 戒告かいこく

    admonition; warning; caution

  • 論告ろんこく

    prosecutor's closing argument

Explore all words using 告 →

Study

Etymology

告 is traditionally explained as combining 牛 (cow) and 口 (mouth), possibly suggesting an announcement or declaration, though the exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The top ⺧ looks like a simplified cow, and the bottom 口 is a mouth. Imagine a cow opening its mouth to moo loudly, announcing its presence to the whole field.

Reading mnemonic

For コク, picture a rooster crowing at dawn to announce the day: cock-a-doodle-doo -> コク, and the sound tells everyone morning has come.