复述 (fù shù) is a verb meaning 'to repeat back what someone has just said', often to confirm understanding or demonstrate memory. The character 复 (fù) means 'again' or 'to repeat', while 述 (shù) means 'to narrate' or 'to state'. Together, they emphasize the act of restating information verbatim or with close fidelity — not merely paraphrasing. It's commonly used in educational settings (e.g., language learning, classroom instruction), medical contexts (e.g., repeating instructions for accuracy), and daily communication where clarity and verification matter.

Unlike casual repetition, 复述 implies intentionality and purpose: it’s a cognitive or communicative strategy, not just echoing. It often appears in formal or semi-formal registers — you might be asked to 复述 a passage in class or a doctor may ask you to 复述 dosage instructions. It can also function as a noun ('a repetition'), though its verbal use is far more frequent.