述Tone 4

shù ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 辶

述 · shù

to narrate;

to state;

to relate;

to recount;

to describe;

to expound

to narrateto stateto relate

Usage highlights

to narrateto stateto recountto describeto reportwork report

Synonyms

叙述— to narrate
陈述— to state
讲述— to recount

Antonyms

作— to create (as opposed to transmitting)
创— to innovate

Usage & contexts

Examples

He described the incident in detail (详细叙述).
Please state your opinion (请陈述你的观点).
The book recounts his life story (讲述他的生平).
She narrated the story vividly (生动地叙述故事).

Collocations

to narrate(叙述)
to state(陈述)
to recount(讲述)
to describe(描述)
to report(述说)
work report(述职报告)

Idioms

To follow what has been laid down(述而不作)
To recount one's duties(述职)
To state one's views(述志)

Cultural background

In Confucian tradition, '述而不作' (transmitting rather than creating) reflects the value placed on preserving and transmitting ancient wisdom.
The character combines the movement radical 辶 with 术 (method/art), suggesting the methodical recounting of information.

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