略述 means 'to state briefly' or 'to summarize concisely'. It is a formal, written verb composed of two characters: 略 (lüè), meaning 'brief' or 'slight', and 述 (shù), meaning 'to state', 'to narrate', or 'to recount'. Together, they convey the idea of presenting essential points without elaboration—emphasizing brevity and selectivity over completeness.

This term is commonly used in academic writing, reports, official documents, and presentations where a concise overview is required. It’s rarely used in casual speech; instead, spoken contexts favor simpler alternatives like 简单说 (jiǎndān shuō) or 简要介绍 (jiǎnyào jièshào). 略述 often appears at the beginning of sections (e.g., '略述如下') or when introducing a summary before detailed discussion. Its tone is neutral-to-formal, and it carries an expectation of precision and economy of language.