奉告 (fèng gào) — to inform (formal, respectful)

Definition

A formal, respectful 'to inform' used in writing or official announcements (e.g. 特此奉告). Plain 告诉 is everyday speech; 通知 is to notify/give notice.

verb
to inform (formal, respectful)

Examples

  • ，。
    Duì yú zhè ge wèn tí, wǒ men wú kě fèng gào.
    Regarding this question, we have no comment.
  • 奉告，。
    Tè cǐ fèng gào gè wèi lái bīn, huì yì jí jiāng kāi shǐ.
    We hereby inform all guests that the meeting is about to begin.
  • 奉告。
    Tā zhèng shì fèng gào le quán tǐ chéng yuán.
    He formally informed all members.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

奉fèngrespectfully
告gàotell

奉 'respectfully' plus 告 'tell' makes a formal way to inform someone.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
廾廾gǒngtwo hands
Sound part声符shēngfú
丰
丰fēng奉fèng
Same sound today

奉 pairs 丰 for the pronunciation with 廾, 'two hands', as the meaning part.

Open 奉 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The origin is unclear: one theory sees 告 as 壴 (a decorated drum) above 口 (an open mouth), while another sees a tongue sticking out of 口.

Open 告 →

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