概述 (gài shù) is a noun meaning 'summary' or 'outline'—a concise presentation of the main points of something longer or more complex. The first character 概 (gài) means 'general' or 'roughly', suggesting breadth and abstraction, while 述 (shù) means 'to state' or 'to narrate'. Together, they convey the idea of giving a broad, organized account without detailed elaboration. It’s commonly used in academic, professional, and formal contexts—such as summarizing a report, introducing a chapter, or previewing a presentation.

This word carries a formal register and is rarely used in casual speech; native speakers tend to say 简介 (jiǎnjiè, 'introduction') or 小结 (xiǎojié, 'brief conclusion') in everyday situations. 概述 often appears as a noun (e.g., 一份概述) or as part of compound nouns like 概述部分 (gài shù bù fèn, 'summary section'). It emphasizes clarity, concision, and structural overview rather than interpretation or evaluation.