quàngào: 劝告 - To Advise, To Urge, To Exhort

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Summary: Learn the Chinese word 劝告 (quàngào), which means “to advise” or “to urge.” More than a simple suggestion, 劝告 implies a strong, earnest piece of advice given out of deep concern, often from a position of authority or experience (like a doctor, parent, or teacher). This guide breaks down its characters, cultural context, practical use, and key differences from the more casual word 建议 (jiànyì).

Pinyin (with tone marks): quàngào

Part of Speech: Verb, Noun

HSK Level: HSK 4

Concise Definition: To earnestly advise or urge someone to do or not do something, usually for their own good.

In a Nutshell: Think of 劝告 (quàngào) as advice with weight. It’s not a casual, “Hey, you should try this.” Instead, it's a serious appeal that implies, “I strongly believe this is the right path for you, and I'm telling you this because I care.” It carries a sense of responsibility and is often used by people in a position to give guidance, like parents, elders, teachers, doctors, or very close friends.

劝 (quàn): This character is about persuasion and urging. It's composed of 又 (yòu), meaning “again,” and 力 (lì), meaning “strength” or “effort.” So, 劝 vividly pictures the act of repeatedly applying effort to convince someone.

告 (gào): This character simply means “to tell,” “to inform,” or “to announce.”

Together, 劝告 (quàngào) literally means “to effortfully tell” or “to urge and inform.” This combination perfectly captures the word's meaning of giving strong, persuasive advice intended to guide someone's actions.

In Chinese culture, giving 劝告 (quàngào) is often seen as an act of care and social responsibility, not an intrusion. It reflects a collectivist mindset where individuals are interconnected and have a duty to look out for one another's well-being, especially within established relationships (family, teacher-student, doctor-patient).

Comparison to Western “Unsolicited Advice”: In many Western cultures, giving unsolicited advice can be perceived as meddling or presumptuous. However, receiving 劝告 (quàngào) from an elder, a parent, or a teacher in China is often expected and respected. It's understood that the advice comes from a place of wisdom and concern for one's welfare and future. Rejecting such advice can sometimes be seen as disrespectful or immature. It's less about individual autonomy (“It's my life”) and more about heeding the wisdom of those with more life experience.

Formal & Authoritative Contexts: This is the most common use. A doctor will 劝告 a patient to quit smoking. A teacher will 劝告 a student to study harder. A boss might 劝告 an employee to be more careful.

Serious Interpersonal Contexts: Among equals, 劝告 is reserved for serious situations. You would 劝告 a friend to leave a toxic relationship or to stop a harmful habit. Using it for trivial matters would sound overly dramatic.

As a Noun: 劝告 can also mean “advice” (the noun). For example, “他不听我的劝告” (Tā bù tīng wǒ de quàngào) - “He doesn't listen to my advice.”

Connotation: The connotation is generally positive and caring, but it can feel pressuring or condescending if the relationship doesn't warrant such strong advice. It always carries a serious tone.

建议 (jiànyì) - The most important contrast. A neutral “suggestion” or “proposal” among equals.

劝说 (quànshuō) - A close synonym meaning “to persuade.” It focuses more on the process and success of persuading someone.

忠告 (zhōnggào) - “Loyal/sincere advice.” Even more heartfelt and serious than `劝告`, given out of deep loyalty or friendship.

提醒 (tíxǐng) - “To remind.” Much lighter; it's about jogging someone's memory, not changing their behavior (e.g., “Remind me to buy milk.”).

警告 (jǐnggào) - “To warn.” Much stronger and more severe than `劝告`. It implies clear negative consequences if the warning is ignored.

说服 (shuōfú) - “To convince” or “to talk into.” This verb focuses on the *result* of a successful persuasion. You can `劝告` someone but fail to `说服` them.

意见 (yìjiàn) - “Opinion” or “view.” A neutral term for someone's thoughts on a matter, without the persuasive intent of `劝告` or `建议`.

劝 (quàn) - The single character can be used as a verb meaning “to urge” or “to advise” in a slightly more colloquial way (e.g., “我劝你别去” - Wǒ quàn nǐ bié qù - I advise you not to go).