陈述句 (chén shù jù) — declarative sentence; statement sentence (in grammar)

Definition

A 陈述句 is a sentence that states a fact or opinion, normally ending with a period — contrast with 疑问句 (a question).

noun
declarative sentencestatement sentence (in grammar)

Examples

  • 陈述句。
    Zhè shì yí gè jiǎn dān de chén shù jù.
    This is a simple declarative sentence.
  • 陈述句。
    chén shù jù Hé yí wèn jù de yòng fǎ bù tóng.
    Declarative sentences and interrogative sentences are used differently.
  • ，陈述句。
    Zài zhōng wén lǐ, chén shù jù de mò wěi tōng cháng yòng jù hào.
    In Chinese, a declarative sentence usually ends with a period.

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.

陈述state/declare
陈chénstate述shùexpress
联合Side by side
句jùsentence

“陈述” means state or declare, and “句” means sentence; together they mean a declarative sentence.

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 陳; 陈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阜阜fùmound
Sound part声符shēngfú
東
東dōng陳chén
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 陳 pairs 阜 (mound) with 東 as a sound component.

Open 陈 →

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 →

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
丩丩jiūto entangle
Sound part声符shēngfú
口
口kǒu句jù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

句 pairs 丩, originally two entangled ropes and giving a sense of entangling, with 口 as the sound part.

Open 句 →

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