概述 (gài shù) — summary, overview, general description

Definition

概述 (gài shù) is a noun meaning a 'summary' or 'overview' of something longer, like a chapter, book, or topic. Used for written or spoken condensed accounts, more formal than 总结.

noun
summaryoverviewgeneral description

Examples

  • 概述。
    Lùn wén qián miàn yǒu yì piān jiǎn duǎn de gài shù.
    The paper has a brief overview at the beginning.
  • 概述。
    Qǐng xiān dú yí xià zhè zhāng de gài shù.
    Please first read the summary of this chapter.
  • 概述。
    Lǎo shī ràng wǒ men xiě yí gè guān yú zhè běn shū de gài shù.
    The teacher asked us to write a summary about this book.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

概gàigeneral
述shùdescribe

概 gives general and 述 gives describe, so the word means to state something in general terms.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
既
既jì概gài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

概 pairs 木 (wood) with 既 as its sound part; the character meant a strickle.

Open 概 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
朮
朮zhú述shù
Same sound today

述 combines 辵, a walking radical, with 朮, which gives the sound; the walking part belongs to the meaning.

Open 述 →

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