Chinese word

告状

Pronunciation

Pinyingào zhuàng

Meaning

  • verbtattle

Example

别再向老板告状了。bié zài xiàng láo bǎn gào zhuàng le

Don't tattle to the boss anymore.

Illustration for 告状 (tattle)

More examples

邻居因噪音问题向社区告状，要求处理。lín jū yīn zào yīn wèn tí xiàng shè qū gào zhuàng yāo qiú chú lǐ

The neighbor filed a complaint with the community over a noise problem and demanded action.

Core concept

Turning a private wrong into a matter for an authority, usually with a request for action.

Common phrases

  • 向老师告状xiàng lǎo shī gào zhuàng

    tattle to the teacher

  • 向上级告状xiàng shàng jí gào zhuàng

    tattle to a superior

  • 向法院告状xiàng fǎ yuàn gào zhuàng

    file a complaint with the court

Similar words

告诉gào sù: Letting someone know about facts or feelings.
投诉tóu sù: Reporting bad service or treatment to a company or institution to seek a remedy or compensation.
举报jǔ bào: Notifying officials about illegal or corrupt behavior so they can investigate or punish it.
起诉qǐ sù: Bringing a case to court to demand legal responsibility from a person or organization.

Definition in Chinese

向有权力的人或机构报告他人的过错或请求处理，常带有要求处分或申诉的意味。xiàng yǒu quán lì de rén huò jī gòu bào gào tā rén de guò cuò huò qǐng qiú chú lǐ cháng dài yǒu yāo qiú chǔ fèn huò shēn sù de yì wèi

Word origin

告 (gào, "report") combines with 状 (zhuàng, "statement or petition") to preserve the older idea of submitting a case for official attention.

Usage tips

  • The word can sound disapproving even when the matter is serious, because it commonly evokes a person reporting someone else's behavior rather than calmly describing a problem.

Other meanings

  • file a complaintverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 告状书gào zhuàng shūcomplaint letternoun
  • 告状人gào zhuàng réncomplainantnoun

Word lists with this word