HSK 6, ns, 9 strokes, radical 又, rank #14446, Hard
叙
xù
to narrate
HSK 6, ns, 9 strokes, radical 又, rank #14446, Hard
叙
xù
to chat
HSK 6, ns, 9 strokes, radical 又, rank #14446, Hard
叙
xù
abbr. for Syria 敘利亞
HSK 6, ns, 9 strokes, radical 又, rank #14446, Hard
叙
xù
>叙利亚[Xù lì yà]
HSK 6, ns, 9 strokes, radical 又, rank #14446, Hard
叙
xù
to express, to state; to relate, to narrate
HSK 6, ns, 9 strokes, radical 又, rank #14446, Hard
xù(xu4) T4
1>叙[xù]
2to narrate
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March 24, 2026
叙(敍)xù(xu4)
The character 叙 (xù) primarily means 'to narrate' or 'to express' something in detail. It is often used in contexts involving storytelling, conversation, or providing an account of events. This character can also refer to informal chatting and is associated with sharing experiences or information.
Strokes9Radical又Frequency#14446DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, storytelling is a revered art form, often seen during gatherings and celebrations. The practice of 叙述 (narration) can be a way to preserve history and maintain familial ties through shared stories.
Memory Tip
Imagine a storyteller (the character's shape resembles a person speaking) who is narrating a tale to an audience. The '口' (mouth) component signifies speaking, while the '余' (remainder) suggests adding extra details to the story or chat. Together, they help you remember that 叙 is about narrating or sharing verbally.
Meanings of 叙
xù(xu4)
1to narrate
2to chat
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 叙
叙Simplified
敍Traditional
9Strokes
又Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#14446Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6
Podcast: 叙
Podcast: 叙
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AI Study Notes for 叙
Quick Contrast
叙 (xù) vs 描 (miáo) — use 叙 when focusing on narrating or expressing in detail, while 描 emphasizes describing or depicting something visually.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a storyteller (the character's shape resembles a person speaking) who is narrating a tale to an audience. The '口' (mouth) component signifies speaking, while the '余' (remainder) suggests adding extra details to the story or chat. Together, they help you remember that 叙 is about narrating or sharing verbally.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 叙 (xù) with other similar-sounding characters in tone, such as 敘 (xù). It is more commonly used in informal settings rather than formal writing. Typical collocations include 叙述 (to narrate) and 叙聊 (to chat).
HSK Study Tips
Although not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, 叙 shares roots with words related to communication found in lower levels, such as 说 (to speak) and 讲 (to talk). Students should focus on understanding its use in conversational contexts to enhance their speaking skills.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, storytelling is a revered art form, often seen during gatherings and celebrations. The practice of 叙述 (narration) can be a way to preserve history and maintain familial ties through shared stories.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 叙 with similar characters like 叙述 (narrate) and 敘 (narrate) due to their similar meanings. A common mistake is using 叙 in overly formal contexts; instead, use 敘 for more serious or written communications.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 叙
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Grammar Patterns of 叙
叙 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
这个团体与____利亚的关系可以追溯到《圣经》时代。
The community's links with Syria date back to biblical times.
Example Sentences for 叙 (10)
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1
这个团体与叙利亚的关系可以追溯到《圣经》时代。
zhè gè tuán tǐ yǔ xù lì yà de guān xì kě yǐ zhuī sù dào《 《 shèng》 jīng 》。
The community's links with Syria date back to biblical times.
2
只有在谈判涉及重大问题时叙利亚才会参加。
zhī yǒu zài tán pàn shè jí zhòng dà wèn tí shí xù lì yà cái huì cān jiā。
Syria will attend only if the negotiations deal with issues of substance.
Jules, the story's narrator, is an actress in her late thirties.
5
剧本倒叙了老英雄的童年.
jù běn dǎo xù le lǎo yīng xióng de tóng nián.
The script cuts back to the old hero's childhood.
6
埃米斯以倒叙的方式讲述了这个故事，从这个男人死去的时候开始讲起。
āi mǐ sī yǐ dǎo xù de fāng shì jiǎng shù le zhè gè gù shì， ， cóng zhè gè nán rén sǐ qù de shí hòu kāi shǐ jiǎng。
Amis tells the story in reverse, from the moment the man dies.
7
他对战争的叙述含有大量离题的细节.
tā duì zhàn zhēng de xù shù hán yǒu dà liáng lí tí de xì jié.
His account of the war includes a lot of extraneous details.
8
现代文学以家族为母题创作的小说拥有共性的叙事形式.
xiàn dài wén xué yǐ jiā zú wéi mǔ tí chuàng zuò de xiǎo shuō yōng yǒu gòng xìng de xù shì xíng shì.
The fictions with family motif in modern have uniform narrative form.
9
他叙说自己洗蒸汽浴的感受.
tā xù shuō zì jǐ xǐ zhēng qì yù de gǎn shòu.
He narrated his own personal experience of the Turkish bath.
10
他带着留恋的心情, 一边喝酒一边叙述他的拉丁美洲之行.
tā dài zháo liú liàn de xīn qíng, , yī biān hē jiǔ yī biān xù shù tā de lā dīng měi zhōu zhī.
Over drinks , he speaks longingly of his trip to Latin America.
Cultural Notes for 叙
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, storytelling is a revered art form, often seen during gatherings and celebrations. The practice of 叙述 (narration) can be a way to preserve history and maintain familial ties through shared stories.
Word Family of 叙
Compounds2
溆xu4a river in Hunan
潊
Words Containing This Character20
叙述xùshùto recount敘述
叙利亚Syria敘利亞
叙xùto chat敘
叙旧to reminisce敘舊
叙事narrative敘事
记叙to narrate記敘
叙事诗narrative poem敘事詩
记叙文narrative writing記敘文
倒叙to flash back倒敘
叙永Xuyong county in Luzhou 瀘州|泸州[Lúzhōu], Sichuan敘永
叙谈to chat敘談
叙述性narrative敘述性
铺叙complete narrative鋪敘
叙永县Xuyong county in Luzhou 瀘州|泸州[Lúzhōu], Sichuan敘永縣
追叙to recount what happened prior to events already known追敘
顺叙chronological narrative順敘
叙拉古Syracuse, Sicily敘拉古
面叙to talk face-to-face面敘
叙言preface敘言
叙明detailed accounting敘明
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 溆 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 叙
Both characters are pronounced the same, but 叙 is a simplified variant used in modern contexts, while 敘 can appear in more formal or traditional texts.
Generally, 叙 is more suited for informal contexts like conversation rather than formal writing, where 敘 might be preferred.
You can use 叙 when you want to ask someone about their day or to share a story, making it a great word for social interactions.
