描述

• Pinyin: miáo shù
• Hanzi breakdown: 描 = 扌(hand) + 苗 (seedling, phonetic) — to trace, to sketch; 述 = 辶 (walk) + 术 (art) — to narrate

Meaning

To describe; description. To give an account of something in words, conveying its characteristics or events.

A neutral, somewhat formal verb for describing something in words. Can function as both a verb and a noun. Compared to 描写 (which is more literary and creative), 描述 is more objective and factual. Common in news, reports, academic writing, and everyday conversation when recounting events.

Examples

1. 请你描述一下当时发生了什么。 Please describe what happened at that time.
2. 她对那个地方的描述让我很想去看看。 Her description of that place made me really want to go see it.
3. 他把事情的经过描述得很清楚。 He described the course of events very clearly.

Usage Guide

Context: communication, report, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你能描述一下那个人的样子吗？(Can you describe what that person looks like?)
• 这段描述非常准确。(This description is very accurate.)

Don't Say

• 他描述了一首诗 — 描述 is for factual accounts; for artistic or literary expression, use 描写 or 创作 instead

Origin & History

描 means 'to trace' or 'to sketch' and 述 means 'to narrate' or 'to state.' Together they describe tracing out a verbal picture.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal