gàobái
Also written: gaobai; confession; declaration; love confession; 表白
An open declaration or confession; in modern romance dialogue, it commonly refers to telling someone directly that one has romantic feelings for them.
Literal meaning
to state or reveal openly
Cultural context
告白 has broader meanings involving open declaration, while 表白 is also widely used for expressing one’s feelings or position. Modern youth and romance stories frequently use both for a love confession.
How dramas use it
A character prepares a gàobái, confesses in person, writes a letter, gets interrupted, is rejected, or learns that years of indirect behavior never replaced one clear statement.
Usage & formality
Context determines whether it means romantic confession, open declaration, or another kind of statement. Do not translate every use as confessing wrongdoing.