转述 (zhuǎn shù) — to relay (someone else's words), to report (wha…

Definition

To pass on someone else's words — relay, report, or retell what another person said, without adding your own interpretation.

verb

to relay (someone else's words)to report (what was said)

转述，。
Tā zhuǎn shù le lǎo shī de huà, ràng dà jiā zhù yì ān quán.
He relayed the teacher's words, telling everyone to pay attention to safety.
转述。
Jì zhě zhuǎn shù le mù jī zhě de miáo shù.
The reporter relayed the eyewitness's description.
转述，。
Qǐng bú yào zhí jiē zhuǎn shù bié rén de huà, zuì hǎo zì jǐ què rèn yí xià.
Please don't directly relay other people's words — it's best to confirm yourself.

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.

The sense of 转 relaying joins 述 telling to mean retell.

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 轉; 转 is its simplified writing.

車專轉

Meaning part形符xíngfú

車車jūcarriage

Sound part声符shēngfú

專

專zhuān轉zhuǎn

Same sound today

The traditional form 轉 combines 車, a carriage, with 專 as a sound part; the simplified 转 is a later shorthand.

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