禀告 (bǐng gào) — to report (to a superior; often in a formal or hierarchical context)

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to report to a superior' (禀 to one's superior; 告 to tell). Far more literary than 告诉, and more hierarchical than 报告 — used chiefly in formal writing or speech to someone above you.

verb
to report (to a superior; often in a formal or hierarchical context)

Examples

  • 禀告。
    Tā xiàng lǎo bǎn bǐng gào le gōng zuò de jìn zhǎn.
    He reported the work progress to his boss.
  • 禀告。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè jiàn shì bǐng gào gěi shàng jí.
    Please report this matter to your superiors.
  • 禀告。
    Nǐ bì xū rú shí bǐng gào shì gù de jīng guò.
    You must report the accident details truthfully.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

禀bǐngreport
告gàotell

“禀” and “告” both mean report or tell, reinforcing the act of informing.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 稟; 禀 is its simplified writing.

  • 㐭㐭㐭granary
  • 禾禾hégrain

The traditional form 稟 combines 㐭 (granary) and 禾 (grain) to show gifting grain; the simplified 禀 is a shorthand, so its present parts are not the historical parts.

Open 禀 →

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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