陈述

• Pinyin: chén shù
• Hanzi breakdown: 陈 = 阝 (hill) + 东 (east, phonetic); 述 = 辶 (movement) + 术 (skill, phonetic)

Meaning

To state; to declare; to present (facts or arguments). A formal way of expressing or explaining something.

Used in legal, academic, and formal contexts. Implies a structured presentation of information. Often used for witness statements, case presentations, or formal explanations. More formal than 说明.

Examples

1. 被告在法庭上陈述了事件的经过。 The defendant stated the course of events in court.
2. 请你陈述一下你的观点和理由。 Please present your viewpoint and reasons.
3. 他的陈述与证人的说法存在矛盾。 His statement contradicts what the witness said.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, academic, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 原告有权陈述自己的诉求。(The plaintiff has the right to state their claims.)
• 在论文答辩中，你需要清楚地陈述研究方法。(In your thesis defense, you need to clearly present your research methodology.)

Don't Say

• 陈述你昨天干嘛了 (Too formal for casual conversation — use 说说 or 讲讲 instead)

Origin & History

Compound of 陈 (to state, lay out) and 述 (to narrate, describe). Both emphasize verbal presentation of information.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal