Meanings of 敘
By ear
Play it, then pick what 敘 means.
About 敘
Podcast: 敘
Podcast: 敘
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 敘
叙 (xù) vs 述 (shù) — use 敘 (xù) when emphasizing the narrative aspect, while 述 (shù) is more about stating or expressing information without the narrative nuance.
When using 敘, be careful not to confuse it with similar characters like 訴 (sù), which means to accuse or sue. 敘 is often found in literary contexts, so it may come off as more formal. Common collocations include 敘述 (xùshù - to narrate) and 敘事 (xùshì - narration).
Although 敘 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be linked to HSK level 4 and above vocabulary that involves narration and storytelling, such as 描述 (miáoshù - to describe) and 叙述 (xùshù). Focus on its use in written Chinese, particularly in essays or storytelling.
Learners often confuse 敘 with 訴 (sù), leading to incorrect usage in sentences about storytelling versus legal accusations. For example, saying '我想要訴我的故事' (I want to sue my story) should be corrected to '我想要敘述我的故事' (I want to narrate my story).
Pronunciation of 敘
Drill the tone of 敘 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 敘 to You
Let me explain 敘 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 敘 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Etymology of 敘
Phonosemantic compound. 又 represents the meaning and 余 represents the sound. Simplified form of 敘.
again
Origin
敘 = 攵 + 余. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 敘
Parts
Which of these is part of 敘?
How to say to express, to state; to relate, to narrate in Chinese
“to express, to state; to relate, to narrate” in Chinese is敘
The character 敘 (xù) means to express or state something clearly, often in a narrative form. It is commonly used in contexts of storytelling or describing events, and conveys a sense of detailing and relating information to others.
When to use 敘
When using 敘, be careful not to confuse it with similar characters like 訴 (sù), which means to accuse or sue. 敘 is often found in literary contexts, so it may come off as more formal. Common collocations include 敘述 (xùshù - to narrate) and 敘事 (xùshì - narration).
敘 or something close to it
叙 (xù) vs 述 (shù) — use 敘 (xù) when emphasizing the narrative aspect, while 述 (shù) is more about stating or expressing information without the narrative nuance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 敘 with 訴 (sù), leading to incorrect usage in sentences about storytelling versus legal accusations. For example, saying '我想要訴我的故事' (I want to sue my story) should be corrected to '我想要敘述我的故事' (I want to narrate my story).
Write 敘
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 敘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 敘?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Word Family of 敘
Words with 敘
What does 叙述 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 敘
You can say 敘述历史事件 (xùshù lìshǐ shìjiàn) which means 'to narrate historical events'.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 敘?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.