How to Write 述 (shù) — Meaning “To state; to narrate”

Picture a storyteller (述) walking along a path (辶) while reciting a tale, using their skill (术) with words. The right side 术 looks like a person with arms spread, emphasizing the act of speaking. This image helps you recall that 述 means to state or narrate as someone moves through a story.

Write the left radical 辶 first: dot, then a curved horizontal stroke, and finally a swooping bottom stroke. The right part 术 begins with a horizontal stroke, then a vertical stroke through it, followed by left and right strokes like a tree. A common mistake is making the 辶 too narrow or the right side too wide—keep the 辶 compact and the right side centered.

述 (shù) means to narrate, while 巡 (xún) means to patrol or go around, and 达 (dá) means to reach or achieve. Visually, 述 has the right component 术 (skill), 巡 has the right component 川 (river/stream), and 达 has 大 (big) with a dot. The different right parts change the meaning completely, so focus on the phonetic cues.

述 is common in formal or written Chinese, such as 描述 (describe), 陈述 (statement), and 讲述 (narrate). It appears in news reports, academic writing, and speeches to convey structured information. Culturally, 述 is neutral but often implies careful, organized expression, as in 上述 (the above-stated), showing its role in clear communication.

Common words containing 述 include: 描述 (miáo shù) — To describe; 陈述 (chén shù) — to state / statement; 讲述 (jiǎng shù) — To narrate / To relate.