叙事 (xùshì) is a noun meaning 'narrative' or 'storytelling'—the act or art of telling a story in a structured, meaningful way. The first character 叙 (xù) means 'to narrate', 'to recount', or 'to relate', while 事 (shì) means 'matter', 'affair', or 'event'. Together, they literally mean 'recounting events', emphasizing the organized presentation of experiences, ideas, or facts over time.

This term is commonly used in literary analysis, film studies, journalism, and education—not for casual chat, but for deliberate, coherent storytelling with purpose and structure. It appears in academic contexts (e.g., narrative theory), creative writing workshops, and media criticism. While everyday speakers may say 讲故事 (jiǎng gùshi) for simple 'telling a story', 叙事 carries a more formal, analytical, or artistic connotation—often referring to how a story is told, not just what is told.