敍 (xù) - To narrate, to tell, to recount & to converse, to chat

敍Tone 4

xù ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

敍 · xù

To narrate, to tell, to recount;

to converse, to chat;

also used in the sense of expressing or stating.

To narrate, to tell, to recountto converse, to chatalso used in the sense of expressing or

Usage highlights

To narrateTo chat about old timesDescriptionStatementTo talk in detailTo record

Synonyms

  • 述— to state, to narrate
  • 说— to speak, to say

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He narrated his travel experiences (敍述他的旅行经历).
  • They chatted about old times (敍旧).
  • The author described the scene vividly (作者生动地敍写了那个场景).
  • Please state your reasons (请敍述你的理由).

Collocations

  • To narrate(敍述)
  • To chat about old times(敍旧)
  • Description(敍写)
  • Statement(敍说)
  • To talk in detail(详敍)
  • To record(记敍)

Idioms

  • Plain narrative(平铺直敍)
  • Long-winded and nonsensical talk(敍亲托故)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 敍 combines 余 (remaining, surplus) with 攵 (strike/action), suggesting the action of laying out what remains (in one's mind), i.e., to narrate.
  • It is used in formal and literary contexts for describing, recounting, and stating.
  • In classical texts, it often appears in the context of recording history or events.

FAQ