诉 sù tell
tell; accuse; to complain; to sue; to appeal
How to remember 诉: 讠 words + 斥 to scold = tell. In court the neighbour picks her words with care, ready to scold the man whose dog barks all night, and stands up to tell.
Component breakdown
诉 = 讠 words + 斥 to scold
- 讠 words
- 斥 to scold
In court the neighbour picks her words with care, ready to scold the man whose dog barks all night, and stands up to tell.
How it is used
- Chiefly in 告诉 (gàosu) = to tell (someone something) - 告诉我 (gàosu wǒ) tell me. Note the neutral tone here.
- The independent sense is legal/formal "to complain, appeal, sue" - 投诉 (tóusù) lodge a complaint, 起诉 (qǐsù) sue, 上诉 (shàngsù) appeal.
Words with 诉
- 告诉gàosuto tellHSK 2
- 投诉tóusùto lodge a complaintHSK 6
- 上诉shàngsùto appeal (a judicial case)HSK 7
- 申诉shēnsùto file a complaintHSK 7
- 诉求sùqiúto demandHSK 7
- 诉苦sùkǔto grumbleHSK 7
- 诉说sùshuōto recountHSK 7
- 起诉qǐsùto sueHSK 7
- 倾诉qīngsùto say everything (that is on one's mind)HSK 8
- 诉讼sùsònglawsuitHSK 9
- 诉诸sùzhūto appealHSK 9
Example sentences
- 请告诉我答案。 Qǐng gàosu wǒ dá'àn.Please tell me the answer.