叙述 (xùshù) is a formal, literary word meaning 'to narrate' or 'narration'. It combines 叙 (xù), which means 'to tell in order', and 述 (shù), meaning 'to state or explain'. Together, they emphasize structured, coherent storytelling — often used in writing, speeches, or academic contexts rather than casual conversation. Unlike everyday verbs like 讲 (jiǎng) or 说 (shuō), 叙述 implies careful organization of events, ideas, or facts over time.

This word commonly appears in contexts such as literature analysis ('the narrator’s style of narration'), historical accounts ('a detailed narration of the battle'), or language instruction ('practice narrative description'). It can function as a verb (e.g., 他叙述了经历) or as a noun (e.g., 这篇小说的叙述很独特). Because of its formality, it’s rarely used in quick, spoken exchanges like ordering food or greeting friends.