TongTong
Sign in

叙述 (xù shù) — to relate (a story or experience); to recount; to narrate

Definition

叙述 is a formal verb meaning 'to narrate / recount' — like 讲述, but more often used for written accounts (novels, reports) than spoken storytelling. 比 诉说 more neutral in tone.

verb
to relate (a story or experience)to recountto narrate

Examples

  • 叙述。
    Tā jiǎn dān dì xù shù le zhěng gè lǚ xíng jīng lì.
    He briefly recounted the whole travel experience.
  • 叙述。
    Qǐng nǐ xù shù yí xià shì qing de jīng guò.
    Please describe the course of events.
  • 叙述。
    Zhè běn xiǎo shuō xù shù le yí gè jiā zú de lì shǐ.
    This novel narrates the history of a family.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

叙xùtell; narrate
述shùstate; narrate

叙 and 述 both involve telling or stating, so together they express narration.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 敘; 叙 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攵Written in full as攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú敘xù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 敘 puts 余 on the left, giving the sound yú, and 攵 on the right as the meaningful part; the simplified 叙 is a shorthand.

Open 叙 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 5Communication & Speech

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.