‘报告’ (bào gào) is a versatile word meaning ‘report’—both as a noun (e.g., a written or spoken summary of information) and as a verb (e.g., to report or inform someone about something). The character 报 (bào) carries the sense of ‘to convey, announce, or respond’, while 告 (gào) means ‘to tell, inform, or declare’. Together, they emphasize formal or official communication of facts, findings, or news. It’s commonly used in academic, professional, medical, and administrative contexts—such as submitting a lab report, giving a work update, or delivering a health diagnosis.

As a noun, ‘报告’ often appears with modifiers like ‘一份’ (a), ‘详细’ (detailed), or ‘年度’ (annual). As a verb, it usually takes an object (e.g., 报告结果 — ‘report the results’) and may be followed by a recipient marked by ‘给’ (e.g., 报告给医生). Unlike casual words like ‘说’ (shuō, ‘to say’), ‘报告’ implies structure, responsibility, and formality.