Meaning and Usage
The verb 告げる (つげる) means "to inform" or "to notify." It is often used in formal or serious contexts where important information or news is conveyed to someone.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see 告げる used when informing about decisions, results, or significant news, such as retirement intentions, exam results, or sad announcements.
Collocations and Patterns
- 告げる + 人 + に: to inform someone (e.g., 上司に告げる - inform the boss)
- 悲しい知らせを告げる: to inform sad news
- 意向を告げる: to express one's intention
Register and Nuance
告げる carries a somewhat formal tone and is more serious than casual verbs like 教える (おしえる). It implies the speaker is delivering important or official information.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 告げる with 教える, but 教える is more general for teaching or telling information, while 告げる is specifically about notifying or informing, often with a formal or serious nuance.