描述 (miáo shù) — to describe | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

描述 is a neutral, general verb for 'to describe' — facts, content, or situations in plain terms. Vivid, image-rich description leans toward 描写 or 描绘, while 形容 focuses on appearance or qualities.

verb

to describe

Examples

描述？
Nǐ néng miáo shù yí xià nǐ de jiā xiāng ma?
Can you describe your hometown?
描述。
Tā miáo shù le nà tiān de tiān qì.
He described the weather that day.
描述。
Zhè piān wén zhāng miáo shù le diàn yǐng de nèi róng.
This article describes the content of the movie.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

述shùnarrate

描 traces details and 述 narrates them; together they mean to describe.

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

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

苗

苗miáo描miáo

Same sound today

The hand part 手 is on the left, showing the action is done with the hand. The right part 苗 gives the sound.

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.

Appears in

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